December Empties

This was actually supposed to be November Empties, but time got away from me and so here it is, just in time for the January sales – although let’s get real, the sales are over by January. It’s the days between Christmas and New Year that the sales happen now. Anyway, let’s get on with the post, I’ve got lots to get through, so I’m going to break each product down in a nutshell so without further adieu, my December Empties…

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

Let’s start off with cleansers, and the crème de la crème of them all, cult beauty product that comes with rave reviews, the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. My problem is this: this is the first balm I’ve ever used, and I’ve started at the top, therefore, I feel other products are only ever going to be inferior to this; it definitely is amazing. I love the texture, the smell, the packaging, how my skin feels during and after use, but I definitely don’t love the price, and it actually isn’t that good at taking off mascara. I don’t exactly lash the stuff on {excuse the pun} but my second cleanse usually got the last of my eye makeup off, or most times I took it off with my trusty No. 7 Beautiful Skin Eye Makeup Remover – the best ever! This product can be used as a first cleanse (to take off makeup) or as a second cleanse/morning cleanse (to clean the face/skin).

Replace or Repurchase:

I replaced, purely because of the price. I originally bought the cleanser with a €10 discount otherwise I don’t think I would have bought it in the first place. I might splash out and get another jar for my birthday. I initially replaced it with the newly launched Trilogy Makeup Be Gone Cleansing Balm, due to the attractive price, and its Trilogy…… {hello!}b ut my oh my, not good! I sent it back for a full refund. Why? a)The balm is too thick, b) it doesn’t clean makeup off the skin, it just pushes it around my face and further into my skin, c) it doesn’t dissolve off my hands, even in very hot water, so then my hands are covered in an oily lard consistency d) it doesn’t smell nice e) the “balm” did not dissolve or rinse out of the flannel and finally f) the tub is much smaller than it looks. I replaced that with Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. It has no smell, which is a little off-putting when you’re used to the luxurious smell of Emma Hardie’s cleansing balm, but it does everything I want it to do, which is to take off my makeup, completely. ‘Nuff said!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

Sticking with cleansers, next up is another cult beauty product, Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish. This is about my third bottle, and it’s a lovely, thick, luxurious-feeling milk cleanser that much like the Emma Hardie cleansing balm, is ideal for first, second or morning cleanse. Now this does get all my makeup off, and by all, I mean including my eye makeup.

Repurchase or Replace:

I actually replaced on this one, and that was just because I fancied a change, and as part of my refund on the Trilogy cleansing balm mentioned above, I got the First Aid Beauty Milk Oil Conditioning Cleanser. Does exactly what it says on the tin, I’ll give my full verdict on it once the bottle is finished.

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Water

I feel this post is rapidly evolving into an “Empty Cleansers” post, but anyway, I got this in the summer, ran out, nothing too great or exciting about it. Personally, I rate micellar waters one notch above makeup cleansing wipes – which are awful! This is the kind of thing that’s good to have on hand when all your other cleansers have ran out and you’re waiting for online purchases to arrive, or you are horrendously intoxicated and can only just about manage a 1 step makeup remover situation in the early hours of the morning. Or festivals, this would be great for festivals! Other than that, waste of money and time in your cleansing routine. NEXT! {If you really do love micellar waters, check out the Nivea one, it’s much better and a third of the price!}

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Last cleanser…well, mud-mask-hybrid-cleanser-thingy… This is supposed to be a brightening mud mask cleanser that can be used more often than once a week, but between counter staff and the internet, I couldn’t for the life of me find out exactly how often you can use this. I used it about every 2 days, but I was rather underwhelmed to be honest. It’s okay…. but nothing to write home about. Or a blog about for that matter.

Replace or Repurchase:

I replaced this with the hugely anticipated Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser. If you got one of these for Christmas, you are extremely lucky, Pixi, Cult Beauty and many other stockists of the Pixi brand all sold out and I was on a 2 week waiting list before I got it. Top Tip: if ever there is an item out of stock and you are prompted to join the waiting list for the product when it comes back in stock, try (where you can) to go directly to the manufacturer, you are almost guaranteed to get it quicker that way. Which is exactly what I did, I’m still waiting for the email from Cult Beauty to say it’s back in stock.  Keep an eye out on my Loving Lately section soon for more on this {amazing} mud cleanser.

Pixi Glow Tonic

Next up, toners, or rather exfoliating acid toners. I ran out of another cult beauty product, Pixi Glow Tonic with 5% glycolic acid which chemically exfoliates the skin. But in a good way, when I first heard the words “chemical”, “acid” and “my skin” in the one sentence and thought, hell no! But no no, this is good chemcial exfoliation. I used this every day, twice a day, after each cleanse in the am and pm. Love the smell, it lasted absolutely ages and kept my complexion bright, fresh and clean; the price is good too, you get a lot of bang for your buck; this bottle has lasted me 5 months!

Replace or Repurchase:

A bit of both on this one. I initially replaced it with the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads – which also come with rave reviews and are another cult beauty product. But I bought them only because they were on sale and I could get them next day deliverym which was great as I’d completely run out of Glow Tonic. I have now ran out and wasn’t that blown away by them; the cotton pads are too soaked for what my skin needs, the smell wasn’t as nice and I didn’t find them as good as Pixi’s Glow Tonic. So, I have just repurchased Glow Tonic and can’t wait for it to arrive in the post.

Alpha H Liquid Gold

Another exfoliating acid toner here, another cult beauty product with rave reviews among beauty bloggers, Alpha H Liquid Gold. Once I got my head around acid toners and got used to the Pixi Glow Tonic, I wanted a little more umph so after reading up and doing my research, I purchased a bottle of this stuff. And it’s fab! Use it every other night after your cleanser, don’t put moisturiser on afterwards for extra pow and let the tingly magic do it’s work. It works by lowering your skin’s natural pH level, thus encouraging cell turnover and more youthful, younger-looking skin {in a nutshell…}.

Repurchase or Replace:

I was really tempted to replace it with a bottle of the next generation of acid toners from Alpha H, their Liquid Laser Concentrate Serum, but I am going to hold off until I’m at least in my 30’s as it is generally for older, or drier skin types, so I repurchased another bottle of Liquid Gold.

Rodial Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser

Almost there…. If you read my October Empties post, you will know that I bought this Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser to replace my Oskia Nutri-Active Day Cream. I loved the texture and feel of this Rodial moisturiser from when I bought the Oskia one and have loved it ever since. It is the perfect balance for my skin type, which is a mixture of normal-dry and normal-combination, not too light, not too heavy, and certainly over the past few weeks my skin has felt much drier due to windy weather and central heating so this has been perfect. I just love this moisturiser so much, my makeup applies perfectly after I put it on, it smells great, feels soooooo good on my skin, really reduces the redness and uneven skintone and it has an SPF of 15 in it.

Replace or Repurchase:

The only thing I don’t love is the damn pump! If I didn’t love this moisturiser so much I wouldn’t purchase it again because of that stupid pump. But, it’s too good not to repurchase, and I did try and test out a few alternatives in Space NK and Kiehls, with their Ultra Facial Cream shaping up to be a contender, but it just didn’t have that hydrating, moisturising, plumping feel that Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Moisturiser did, due to the hyaluronic acid in it, which you can read all about in one of my previous posts here, and the key ingredient, Dragon’s Blood. It’s more expensive, but it’s worth it. I’m pretty certain that this is my moisturiser for the foreseeable future, until my skin changes and needs much more anti-ageing ingredients thrown at it, but for at least the next few years, this is “the one!”

Maria Nila Structure Repair Masque

And finally!! Last one, thankfully! For those of you who read my Loving Lately post on the Maria Nila Colour Refresh you will know that I couldn’t wait to try out more from this range of 100% vegan, sulphate and parabens free hair care. The smell is nice, the tub is big but it just didn’t do it for me. It didn’t give me the results I was hoping for, and that was with a few inches cut off my hair to make sure it was all healthy hair that I was treating.

Replace or Repurchase:

I replaced this and went back to my trusted L’Oréal Professional range, however, the girl in the store persuaded me to go for the Absolut Repair Lipidium which is for the repair and reconstruction of very damaged and dry hair – which is exactly what I have right now. I got the huge tub, and the shampoo and although it’s much better than the Maria Nila, I still prefer my Intense Repair by L’Oréal. My hair just loves it and it seems to work best, so once I run out of the Absolut Repair, I will be going back to that.

If you have stuck with me this far and are still reading, then thank you! It’s been epic, I hope you found it helpful and I have steered you away from unnecessary spending and encouraged you to try some of the better products mentioned. Out of my tub of empties, I only actually repurchased three!

Tarrah for now x