Beauty Empties | Products I've Used Up

Are you ready for a bumper Beauty Empties post? It's always the way isn't it; this is about two months' worth of empties as I didn't feel like I had enough to warrant writing a post last month, and now the recycling bin is overflowing. Grab a cuppa and settle down, there's a lot to discuss here!

Bloomtown Natural Deodorant Bar in Lemongrass & Peppermint* (reviewed here)

I've been using natural deodorants for the best part of 10 years now and I haven't looked back. Admittedly, it can take some trial and error at first to find one that works for you, but a long-time favourite of mine is this deodorant bar from Bloomtown. It lasts a good 2-3 months, is plastic-free, I love the scent and it keeps me fresh all day. Repurchase? Yes.

Nip + Fab Purify Salicylic Fix Spot Patches

These were from a Glossybox and sadly, I didn't find them to be very effective. They didn't dry out my skin, but they also didn't do much to reduce the size of blemishes. Repurchase? No. 

Westlab Reviving Epsom Bath Salts & White Willow, Eucalyptus & Arnica Bath Salts* 

Epsom salts are amazing for reviving the muscles after exercise or just to help you to relax after a stressful/busy day. I'm a big fan of the Westlab Bath Salts which are one of the most affordable brands on the market; the Reviving ones are fragrance-free, whilst the other pack is infused with White Willow, Eucalyptus & Arnica. Repurchase? Definitely.

Saach Organics Henna Orange Oil Shampoo* (reviewed here)

If, like me, you use henna to colour your hair, then this is a fantastic shampoo that contains henna orange oil to keep your colour looking vibrant for longer. Highly recommended. Repurchase? Yes.

Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil* (reviewed here)

It's always a very sad day when you finish up a full-size bottle of Aromatherapy Associates Bath Oil! I adore these so much, and although they are a luxury splurge, a tiny amount goes a long way. This is the De-Stress blend which is amazing for tired and sore muscles. Repurchase? On my wishlist!

This Works Sleep Balm

A cute little pot of scented balm that I like to apply to my pulse points before going to bed. If you have trouble sleeping, I can't recommend the This Works Sleep range enough. Repurchase? Yes.

Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm

Another one that I found in a Glossybox, I originally really liked this, but over time, I began to find the coconut flavour too sickly sweet. Repurchase? No.

Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

This is the classic original formula which has peppermint and Vitamin E in it. You really can't go wrong with these lip balms, I must have gone through loads of them over the years! Repurchase? Yes.

Emma Hardie Brilliance Face Oil* (reviewed here)

An absolutely beautiful product, Emma Hardie's bestselling Brilliance Face Oil is just sublime. I love the blend of natural plant oils and my skin always feels healthier and more glowy whenever I use it. Repurchase? Yes.

Dook X Jupiter Artland Salt Soap

My favourite brand discovery of this year so far has been Dook. Their famous handmade Salt Soaps are not only exquisite and works of art in their own right, but the compact formula means they never go mushy, even after using them every day for the past few months. This one was a special Limited Edition collaboration that they did with the Scottish artist Jupiter Artland. Repurchase? I will buy more from their main range for sure! 

Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Bath and Shower Gel (travel size)

I do love a bit of Molton Brown and Rhubarb & Rose is quite possibly my favourite scent from them; it's so fruity with a touch of floral and a little sherberty zing. A lovely touch of luxury for the bath or shower. Repurchase? Yes.

Tisserand Mandarin & May Chang Uplifting Hand Cream* (reviewed here)

Another beautifully scented product is this hand cream from Tisserand which has a lovely oriental floral and spicy fragrance. My top tip is to stock up on these when they're on offer in TKMaxx. Repurchase? Yes.

Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+ 

An excellent choice for sensitive skin, this sunscreen does the job and doesn't feel sticky or greasy. Repurchase? Yes.

Evolve Organic Beauty Super Berry Bath & Shower Oil* (reviewed here)

Another good option for sensitive skin is this bath & shower oil from Evolve Organic Beauty has a very delicate and gentle formula so I tend to use it a lot when my skin is having an eczema flareup. Repurchase? Yes. 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 

I only use micellar water to remove waterproof mascara as I prefer cleansing oils/balms for the rest of my face, so one of these big bottles lasts me around six months or so. It gets the job done and is fragrance-free. Repurchase? Yes.

Neals Yard Remedies Geranium & Orange Hand Cream*

Gorgeous softening formula with a gorgeous cheerful scent, I've been using these for years and always have one in my stash somewhere. Repurchase? Yes.

Naturecan Purify CBD Clay Mask* (reviewed here)

Whilst I enjoyed using this, I did feel like it's a pretty basic clay face mask and there are other brands that I prefer a lot more. Repurchase? No.

ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara in After Midnight (travel size)

One of the best, if not the best, natural mascaras you'll find on the market right now. I love this mascara so much! It lengthens, adds volume and doesn't smudge or budge all day long. Repurchase? Yes.

Tarte Tarteist Brow Gel

As far as clear brow gels go, this works really well and keeps fluffy brows in place. But is it worth the money? Nope; you can find the same kind of product elsewhere for a much more affordable price. Repurchase? No.

Organic Works Bergamot Body Lotion* (reviewed here)

I love fresh scents as you can probably tell from this post and this big bottle of body lotion from Organic Works has served me well! Lovely light non-sticky formula and a lovely fresh fragrance. Repurchase? Yes.

NEOM Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist* 

An essential on my bedside table, I always like to spritz my bedding with a sleepy pillow mist before calling it a night. This one's in my top three favourites but I do feel that the This Works mist performs slightly better. Repurchase? Maybe.

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream (travel size)

Lastly, I've used up a travel size of REN's bestselling Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream which is something that I have recommended countless times to friends and family. If you have sensitive skin, this is definitely one to try. Repurchase? Yes.

What have you used up recently?

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Beauty Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

What better way to start the New Year than with an Empties post? It's always satisfying to clear the clutter so let's start in the bathroom! Here are all the beauty products that I've finished recently and my thoughts on which ones I'll be repurchasing again in the future.

Leaf People Neroli & Vanilla Body Serum Oil* (reviewed here)

I first came across Leaf People when I judged this same Body Oil in the Cert Clean Beauty Awards. The USA brand was kind enough to send me a little thank-you package after the event and I've loved their Neroli & Vanilla Body Serum Oil ever since. With a rich but light texture, this oil is great for a relaxing self-care massage and pampering session, especially after a long hot bath, and the Neroli and Vanilla fragrance is gorgeous, to say the least. Repurchase? I can't find a UK stockist, unfortunately, but I would definitely pick it up again if I saw it over here.

Beauty Cleanse Cabbage + Cranberry + Hemp Anti-Pollution Deep Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover* (reviewed here)

The name is ridiculously long I know, but this is a proper indie beauty gem! It's packed full of antioxidants and has a luxury oil-to-milk, fragrance-free formula that just dissolves all traces of waterproof makeup, pollution, SPF, and daily grime, in a matter of seconds. I find it's so effective that you only need the tiniest amount which means this glass bottle lasts for months. Repurchase? Yes.  

Rahua Classic Shampoo* (reviewed here)

I've used Rahua's Classic Shampoo on and off for years, and it's one of those luxury haircare products that I only tend to buy when it's on offer due to how expensive it is. The Classic formula is brilliant for fine hair as it adds strength to the follicles without weighing everything down, plus it's safe to use for colour-treated locks too. Is it worth the price tag? This is something that I constantly um and ah about! Repurchase? Maybe if I see a good coupon code to use with it.

Terre Verdi AcquaDiRosa Balancing Mist* (travel size, reviewed here)

This is basically a fancy high-end, organic Rose Floral Water. Straight up and 100% pure, it's perfect for calming any redness and inflammation in your complexion, so lends itself well to those who have troublesome skin types that are prone to breakouts and irritation. Repurchase? As much as I enjoyed using it, it's not a unique product so I would probably shop around for a cheaper (but still organic) version.

Naobay Detox Illuminating Micellar Water (travel size)

Found in a beauty subscription box, Naobay's Detox Micellar Water is gentle but effective at removing makeup, including stubborn waterproof mascaras which is what I primarily use micellar waters for. Repurchase? Sadly this appears to have been discontinued :( 

Monpure Clarifying Scalp Scrub (travel size)

Another beauty box discovery that I was very excited to try out as a lot of people rave about this. However, I found it really difficult to wash out of my hair as it has a very thick, shea butter-rich formula with loads of jojoba beads. Repurchase? Not for me.

Burt's Bees Lip Balm in Cucumber Mint

You can't go wrong with a Burt's Bees Lip Balm and I've been buying them for years. By this point, they have become a beauty staple of mine and I must have tried all the different flavours that they do; Cucumber Mint is as refreshing as it sounds. Repurchase? Yes.

Green People CV Age Defy+ Cell Enrich Facial Oil* (travel size)

Green People's best range is their Age Defy line by their founder, Cha Vøhtz. This Cell Enrich Facial Oil is a really good find and has lots of nutrients to feed your skin everything that it needs to glow. If you're looking to nvest in a new facial oil this year, I highly recommend this one. Repurchase? Yes.

What beauty products have you used up recently?

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January Empties: Products I've Used Up

It's time for the first Empties post of the year and I seem to have used up a bit of everything! There are some amazing holy grail favourites in this little lot too, so let's get stuck in!

Yves Rocher Delicate Cleansing Cream Low Shampoo

There's a tiny amount still left in the tube, but it's just stopped working for my hair so I'm giving it an early retirement. I purchased this last year in a sale when I was trying out some 'no poo' products, and it started off well, but it gradually started to make my hair look greasy the more I used it, which is never a good thing! Not for me. Repurchase? No.

Aveda Stress-Fix Soaking Salts*

Loved, loved, loved these! If you're a massive stress head like me, you seriously need to try these. They are in my top three favourite bath products of all time, and they do what they say on the tin. Whenever I've had a crappy day, I can always count on these to help me to relax and unwind. They're expensive, however, you do get a big tub that lasts for months. Repurchase? Yes.

Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask

I've spoken about this face mask on numerous occasions, and it's one of a small handful that I always have to have in my skincare stash. Really gentle, but wonderfully effective for healing blemishes and breakouts without any harsh ingredients. I had to get the trusty old tube wringer out to make sure I got every last bit! Repurchase? Already have. 

Dr Organic Snail Gel Facial Serum

A really great affordable serum that I imagine would suit most skin types. Lightweight and sinks right in, whilst smoothing out the skin, keeping it soft and nicely hydrated. I think this is my second bottle, and I'm a big fan of this Snail Gel range. Repurchase? Yes. 

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

Another firm favourite. I've been through loads of these over the years and despite having a mountain of lip balms to get through, I always seem to return to this one. This is the classic peppermint scented formula and it gets the job done! Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion

This travel size mini was from a gift set that my sister bought me for Christmas and it's no surprise that I've used it up already. I absolutely adore the natural Sea Buckthorn fragrance of this range - so fresh and uplifting, and the body lotion is light in texture, but still very hydrating. Repurchase? Yes.

Herbfarmacy Skin Rescue Balm*

My skin has been horribly dry all throughout Winter, but rest assured, this amazing balm has been like a knight in shining armour! I've been slathering it on everywhere; on my feet, elbows, cuticles, hands, eczema areas, everywhere. If you have any dry skin problems, this is the multi-purpose balm for you! Repurchase? Yes.

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum*

I've had a lot of redness on my cheeks and around my nose recently, and whilst this has been helping to some degree (it's a specialised anti-redness serum, mainly for people who have rosacea), I feel like there are other similar products that I prefer more, so I was happy to use this up. Repurchase? Probably not.

Suki Transformative Purifying Masque

I had high hopes for this after seeing some online raves for it, but I'm glad that I tried out some samples first because I didn't see any difference in my skin after using it. It felt nice on, but that was about it. It didn't do anything to treat blemishes for me. Repurchase? No.

What beauty products have you used up recently?

Have you tried any of these?

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January Empties / Products I've Used Up

At the start of the year, I pulled forward a bunch of products that I wanted to use up as they only had small amounts left in them and I'm pretty happy with how many I managed to finish off! Here are my January Empties.

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What's On My Bedside Table? The Beauty Edit

Amidst a pile of books, USB cables, pens and cotton buds, you'll find these products scattered somewhere on my bedside table as I like to use them before heading off to the land of nod.

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Review: Latest In Beauty Awards - The Winners Box - 2015

Last month I posted about the first Latest In Beauty Awards, where LIB were asking beauty fans to vote for their favourite products in a range of categories.  The results were counted up and a brand new exclusive box has now been released to showcase the winners!

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Review: Latest In Beauty - The Capital FM Beauty Box

Latest In Beauty have teamed up with London's Capital FM and released a filled to the brim box of beauty goodies for a bargain price.  Let's take a closer look!

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Review: Lastest In Beauty Hip & Healthy Summer Glow Box

Hot on the heels of their amazing Glamour Beauty Edit box, Lastest In Beauty have done it yet again and released another incredible value-for-money beauty and lifestyle box.  Meet the brand new Hip & Healthy Summer Glow box.

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November Empties / Products I've Used Up

Oh yes, another month is over with so it's Empties time once again!  Here are my overall thoughts on these products, including which ones I'll be repurchasing again in the future.

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My Work / Office / Desk Beauty Essentials

I've seen a lot of posts popping up on my feed recently showcasing the products that women keep with them at their work spaces.  Be it on a desk of your own, inside a drawer or locker etc, there are usually a couple of beauty essentials that we rely on to get us through the working day; here are mine.

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May Empties / Products I've Used Up

Is it really that time of the month again?  Here are my empties/finished products for May, and my mini reviews about whether I'll be repurchasing any of them in the future.

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March Empties / Products I've Used Up

Oh yes, it's that time of the month for the Empties round up!  I managed to finish off quite a lot of products again which is no surprise since I'm still on the 100 Day Spending Ban.  So here are my March Empties, what I thought of them and whether I will be repurchasing them or not.

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Currently Using: Lip Balms!

It's no secret that I have something of an obsession with lip balms.  I have a tube, pot, stick, tin or even sphere of the stuff somewhere near me at all times.  If I didn't, I'd probably run to the nearest shop and purchase one, such is my dislike for dry, chapped lips.  I decided to count up how many of these lip saviors I have in current usage which involved a quick check of my handbags, desk drawers, coat pockets and generally any available surface space that could accommodate such an item.  The total that came back was nine!  So here are those nine lip balms that I currently have on the go:-

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January Empties / Products I've Used Up

January has felt like a long, long month, and I'm not surprised that there are quite a lot of products that I've managed to finish up given that I'm on a Spending Ban.  So without further ado, here are my recent empties:-

Boots Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover
A staple of mine, I always use this one because its cheap and does the job.  Repurchase?  Yes, I already have another in my stash.

I Love...Vanilla & Ice Cream Exfoliating Shower Smoothie
Bought this on a whim ages ago because it was only £1 and it smells just like vanilla ice cream.  It's absolutely rubbish as an exfoliator but was OK as a general shower gel.  Repurchase?  No, the scent got to be too sickly even for someone me!

The Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream
As you can see from the old-style packaging, I've had this for absolutely ages in my bathroom because I have so many shower products to use up.  It has a lovely coconut scent and I always enjoy using it.  Repurchase?  Am sure I will in the future.

Burt's Bees Extra Energizing Citrus & Ginger Root Hand Soap
A nice liquid hand soap with an unusual scent, but one that I grew to like over the last few months that I used it.  Repurchase?  Maybe if I saw it on offer again.

JASON Hydrating Hemp Hand & Body Lotion* - (featured in my 7 Winter Skin Saviours here)
Great body lotion for dry skin, feels light and soaks into the skin straight away with no greasiness.  Repurchase?  Yes, definitely will after my ban.

Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturiser
This was a really good sample for me to use up when it was freezing cold recently.  Has a pleasant delicate rose scent and kept my face hydrated all day.  Repurchase?  I would only use this in the dead of winter as it would be too heavy for my oily/combo skintype, so I'd probably just pick up another sample tube and use it when it was needed.

REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask
I've rarely seen a bad review of this now cult face mask on the blogosphere and like the majority, I like it too.  It smells fruity and feels like non-sticky marmalade, but it always makes my face feel soft and look fresh when I use it.  Repurchase?  I'm not sure I love it enough to splurge on a full size, but I certainly would use up another sample of it.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - (featured in my 7 Winter Skin Saviours here)
Best hand cream ever, I'm rarely ten feet away from one of those beauties!  Repurchase?  Yes, already have a couple of handbag sizes in my stash.

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion* - (featured in my Hayfever Beauty Essentials here)
This is brilliant for using on a cotton pad over your closed eyes in the morning to de-puff and refresh them.  Also a must-have in S/S when hayfever season starts up.  Repurchase?  Yes, already have a travel size of it from my Liz Earle Advent Calendar.

Essential Care Organic Lip Silk Lip Balm*
Loved using this, it's one of the best organic lip balms I've ever used, so much so that I've added it to my Holy Grail list!  Repurchase?  Definitely.

Etat Pur Salicylic Acid 300mg - (reviewed here)
I was surprised by how long this little bottle has lasted me, I must have been using it for at least 4 or 5 months.  Works really well at reducing blemishes and was gentle/non-irritating to use.  Repurchase?  Will do in the future.

Have you used up any products this month?  
Feel free to link to your empties posts below!

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December Empties / Products I've Used Up

So here it is, the last Empties post of the year.  Thought I'd put this up a little early so that I can pop them all in the recycling bin before it's xmas.  These are the products that I managed to finish up in December and whether I would repurchase them again:-

Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask* (reviewed here)
Love this face mask - it clears up any blemishes quickly and makes my skin feel wonderfully clean and clear.  Repurchase?  Yes.

Yardley English Lavender Luxury Body Wash
I've had this lingering around in my bathroom since March when it came in a Joliebox and I've been slowly using it up ever since.  It's not my favourite lavender scent in the world (a bit too 'powdery' for my liking), so I just used the rest up in recent baths.  Repurchase?  No.

Davines Authentic Moisturising Balm
So sad to see my last tube of this get used up!  I used it as an intensive hair treatment and loved how soft it made my hair feel.  Repurchase?  Yes, I'll pick up a full size when I've used up some other hair masks.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
This is the original cooling peppermint formula that Burt's Bees are famous for.  Personally I prefer their Honey formulas more, but this was still nice to use.  Repurchase?  Maybe.

Essential Care Organic Calendula Balm* (reviewed here)
A great multi-purpose all natural and organic balm that can be used on any dry/chapped bits.  This little tub lasted ages!  Repurchase?  I have lots of multipurpose balms in my current stash, but it's certainly something I'd pick up again in the near future.

Clinique All About Eyes
I like this eye cream a lot and have gone through a couple of pots of it in the last two years.  It's a good, everyday eye cream and one to try out if you haven't before.  Repurchase?  I fancy a change so as this was my last pot, I've decided to switch to using Korres' Evening Primrose Eye Cream at the mo.

Dermasalve Body Cream* (reviewed here)
Another product I've had in my bathroom for a while.  This was OK and something I used when I experienced eczema flare ups, but I much prefer LUSH's Dream Cream and Barefoot's SOS Body Lotion to this.  Repurchase?  No.

balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash
Love the delicate rose/turkish delight scent of this and it's one of my favourite natural body washes to use.  Repurchase?  Yes, but only as a treat as it's a little pricey.

Barry M Lip Gloss Wand in Toffee (reviewed/swatched here)
Another favourite product that I've used up is this lip gloss from Barry M.  Smells and tastes just like toffee and is a gorgeous nude shade with a little shimmer.  Repurchase?  Already have!

Have you used up any products this month?  
Feel free to link to your empties posts below!
 

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October Empties / Products I've Used Up

It's that time of the month again - empties time! Here are the beauty products that I have managed to use up recently, what I thought about them and whether I'd repurchase them again.

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5 Mini Reviews: Burt's Bees, AD Skin Synergy, Living Nature, Dr Bragi & Essential Care

This week's 5 Mini Reviews is mainly centered around skincare and features some samples that I've been using for a while, as well as some new ones I've tested out in the last few days.

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5 Mini Reviews: Liz Earle, Madara, LUSH, Burt's Bees & Rituals

The samples above for this 5 Mini Reviews post, have all come out of my recent travel bag.  Here's what I thought about each product:-

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5 Mini Reviews: balance Me, Weleda, Burt's Bees, Juice Beauty & Lush

5 Mini Reviews is going to be a new series I'll be posting on here.  Every now and again, I'll randomly pick 5 sample products from my overflowing Wonder Woman tin, use them up and then share my thoughts on each one (similar to Sandra's recent samples posts but on a more irregular basis!).  Simples!

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Weekend Bargains: Stila and Burt's Bees

I picked up some great beauty bargains this weekend from Poundland and Boots that only cost me about £1 each!  Here's what I bought:-

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