Friday, May 31, 2013

May empties!

May empties

Loads of empties this month!  Hard to believe it's June tomorrow to be honest, January was the slowest month on record but the rest of the year so far has just been a blur!

Christian Dior Instant Cleansing Water and Ren No1 Purity Cleansing Balm

Ren No 1 Purity Cleansing Balm

My first foray back into cleansing balms after the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish debacle.  Now I actively avoid anything with shea butter in it and this balm doesn't contain shea or any nasties that can upset the skin.  I did a review of this balm here and I was really impressed with it.  It's reasonably priced and I picked up a second tube from Space NK recently.

What have I replaced this with?  Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood

Would I repurchase?  Yes, picked one up from Space NK

Christian Dior Instant Cleansing Water

This is a great cleansing water, especially if you find Bioderma too drying.  I noticed this is in the Escentual micellair water blind trial so I will be interested to see how it fairs against the others in the trial.  Brilliant for travelling and quick removal of make-up or for those super lazy days.   I did a mini review of this here if you would to know more about the formula and ingredients.

What have I replaced this with?  Lancome Express Cleansing Water

Would I repurchase?  Yes, not immediately as I have others to try but I know this one works for me if the others don't.

Darphin Aromatic Cleansin Balm with Rosewood

Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood

I did a mini review of this cleansing balm here last week.  Although I liked the balm there are two major problems with it.  The first is that if you don't apply it properly (and the 'proper' way is to warm it between your fingertips first then apply it to wet skin) it has the most horrible sticky, honey like texture that is so difficult to work with.  I've also found that you have to be really really careful you remove it properly as it tends to stick to eyebrows in particular!!  Also, I don't recommend using this to remove eye make up-my eyes stung.  The second problem is the price and the size.  This only comes in a 40ml size which lasted me just 2 and a half weeks (using it once a day in the evening) and it costs £30 for 40ml.  Emma Hardie cleansing balm costs £34 for 100ml.  The Ren balm I reviewed above costs £21 for 100ml.  On the plus side it's effective at removing make up and has left my skin clear and soft but I didn't feel I got the benefits stated on the Darphin website of 'luminously radiant' skin.

What have I replaced this with?  A sample of the Rodial Glamtox cleansing balm I got in the Space NK GWP

Would I repurchase? No

Simple eye make up remover

Simple eye make up remover

HOLY. GRAIL.

If you have read my other empties posts you'll know I love this eye make up remover.  I can't buy it in Dubai so I literally buy it in bulk when I go home!  It's non oily, great for sensitive eyes, effective and cheap as chips.

What have I replaced this with?  Another bottle from my stash!

Would I repurchase? 100%

Keihls Ultra Facial moisturiser and Effaclar Duo

Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser

This is another holy grail product for me-it's one of those moisturisers I go to when my skin is misbehaving and nothing is working.  I use it and it seems to settle my skin down and I know it doesn't irritate me.  This 75ml size is technically a 'travel size' but it seems to last forever.  It's such a light lotion yet you only need a tiny bit.  No fancy ingredients in it and it make's no outlandish claims or promises-it's mainly just Vitamin A and E.

What have I replaced this with?  Alpha H Daily Hydration

Would I repurchase? Yes, I already have

Effaclar Duo

I first saw Tanya Burr talking about this and saying it had helped her skin a lot to recover from a spell of acne.  Then everyone was talking about it and I jumped on the bandwagon.

I really liked it at first then I switched back to the above Kiehls when my skin was just a disaster.  But when I ran out of the Kiehls I thought I would finish off the Effaclar Duo and I really liked it again.  It's very similar to the Kiehls in texture-a light lotion-but has a more matte finish.  This is specifically marketed as an acne treatment and contains Benzoyl Peroxide but is not drying to the skin as a lot of acne treatments are.  It's fragrance, oil and paraben free.  There are really positive reviews on the internet of this product for those with acne.

What have I replaced this with?  Alpha H Daily Hydration

Would I repurchase? I think I already have purchased another one

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti Blemish Mask

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti Blemish mask

I cannot speak highly enough of this mask!!  It was my first experience of Aesop but I am now totally sold on the brand!  I credit this as being a big part of solving my face acne earlier in the year.  I reviewed it here and it is one of my most viewed posts of all time.   I got 12 applications out of this little glass jar and used it once a week.  There is nothing negative I can say about it-I'd probably give this holy grail status.  I bought mine from Cult Beauty.
  
What have I replaced this with? Using the Ren Invisible Pores Detox mask

Would I repurchase?  Yes!  I have others to try including the Aesop Parsley Seed mask but I am sure I will repurchase this at some point in the future.

Aesop Chomoile Concentrate Anti Blemish mask, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Clarins Multi Active Night

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

I don't suppose this refreshing facial spray needs much introduction in the beauty blogging world.

Inspired by the "elixir of youth" used by Queen Isabelle of Hungary, Beauty Elixir mist smoothes features, tightens pores and gives a burst of radiance to the complexion.

This spray can be used after cleansing in the morning (my preferred use as I find it quite refreshing and uplifting even if I hate the smell) or can be spritzed on the face during the day for a burst of freshness.  It's recommended on the Space NK website to spritz between your foundation and powder to set your make up perfectly.

I also love to use this on long haul flights to stay hydrated and refreshed during the flight

What have I replaced this with?  La Roche Posay Serozinc which I am LOVING

Would I repurchase? Yes I have recently bought a 100ml size from Space NK and have a 30ml size which I think I might have stolen from my mum by accident!!

Clarins Multi Active Night cream-deluxe sample size

This is a fairly light night moisturiser and is marketed as a full nights sleep in a jar.  I was a bit slap dash with applying this so didn't get to see if my skin really reaped the benefits.  I've just discovered it contains shea butter, along with carob and kiwi but I didn't find it broke me out despite my aversion to shea!  Having said that I now wouldn't repurchase it knowing it contains shea.

What have I replaced this with? Not really using a night cream at the moment as using glycolic acid on my skin in the evenings.

Would I repurchase? No, it's one of Clarins top sellers but the addition of shea butter means it's a no no for me.

Bath and Body works Orange Ginger body cream and Origins Incredible Spreadable smoothing salt scrub

Origins Incredible Spreadable smoothing salt body scrub

I love a good salt scrub.  I love Origins.  So this was a match made in heaven.  This is a beautifully uplifting and invigorating spearmint and orange infused abrasive scrub set in a gel-similar in texture to the Body Shop Sweet Lemon scrub which I also loved.  Although abrasive the granules dissolved on contact with the skin once they have buffed and sloughed away dead skin cells.  It's also easy to wash off-'sticky' exfoliators are a pet hate of mine!

What have I replaced this with?  The Origins ginger scrub

Would I repurchase? Unfortunately I can't get Origins in Dubai but I definitely would next time I find myself at an Origins counter.

Bath and Body Works Energy Orange Ginger Body Cream

Deeeeeeee-licious in flavour and the perfect morning pick up I loved this BABW body cream.  It's a thick and luxurious 'oily' cream-what I mean by that is that although it comes out of the tube very thick, once on your skin it transforms to a much lighter formula which is a dream to apply and absorbs really quickly.  I really wish you guys could get BABW in the UK as their products are so so nice.

What have I replaced this with?  Another BABW cream

Would I repurchase? Yes, these creams are really lovely

Lanolips LemonAid Lip Aid and Elemis Lip Revive

Elemis Lip Revive-travel size

This lip balm was part of my British Airways Club World pamper kit when I flew to NYC.  I don't know if I got a dodgy tube but I found this to be full of bits and felt really gritty on my lips.  Reading the online description I think mine must have been faulty as it makes no mention of being an 'exfoliating' balm.  This balm contains beeswax, olive oil and cocoa butter plus calendula, wild mind and peppermint.

Had I got a 'proper' tube of this I think I would have really liked it as this balm formula is my preferred formula for lip balms.

The size of the tube made it perfect for throwing in your handbag.  The £16 price tag is a big turn off though.

What have I replaced this with? Always have a plethora of lip balms on the go!

Would I repurchase? No

Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid

This lip balm seems to have lasted forever!  I don't think I have an allergy to lanolin which can be quite common but I do find if I use this continuously through the day my lips can sometimes feel a little swollen.  The smell is lovely and summery and this balm is thick and moisturising.

What have I replaced this with? Always have a plethora of lip balms on the go!

Would I repurchase?  Maybe


Bumble and bumble thickening hairspray

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray- sample size

This was a freebie from Sephora in NYC and my first experience of Bumble and Bumble.  I wasn't wowed which was a surprise because I have read such good things about Bumble and Bumble.

Used as directed, this spray left my hair feeling a little crispy like a cheap hairspray after I had blow dried it.  It does smell good though!

What have I replaced this with?The new John Freida thickening range spray (the one in the green bottle)

Would I repurchase? No

Mac Brow Set, Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow pencil and Lorac Perfectly Lit highlighter

This sorry trio of items represent my make up empties!

Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow Pencil in 30E

These chunky pencils are my favourite eye shadow pencils of all the ones I have tried.  30E is described as pearly pink beige but I find it to be the perfect neutral that is brilliant for weekend make up or for looking groomed in a hurry.  Easy to apply and blend out, waterproof and fade resistant.
Great for people who are a little scared of eyeshadow as these are so easy to use and the pencil shape makes it easy to control.

What have I replaced this with? I still have a couple of similar shade MUFE pencils in my stash

Would I repurchase? Maybe.  If I was buying an eyeshadow pencil these would be my brand of choice.

Lorac Perfectly Lit highlighter in Spotlight

Lorac Perfectly Lit in 'Spotlight'

2013 has been the year of skincare and illuminators for me.  This Lorac product came in my Sephora Favourites 'In The Glow' set and I even admitted in my post about it here that I didn't really know what to do with it.

But it's amazing!  Spotlight is a very finely milled, champagne highlight.  No glitter, subtle shimmer and perfect for day.  Doesn't settle into pores.  I applied this with an Illamsaqua highlighter brush which is quite dense and easy to control.  It gives a lovely sheen to the skin when applied on the top of the cheekbones.  I'm NW/NC15 in Mac foundation so pale but this was the perfect shade for me.

What have I replaced this with?  I've loved this for so long I now need to shop my stash and find an every day replacement.

Would I repurchase?  I wish I could buy Lorac in Dubai but unfortunately it's not available so I'll have to wait until my next trip to the States.


Mac Brow gel

This was clear gel when I bought it but they get utterly filthy!  This one isn't too stiff at setting your brows and doesn't leave any white patches or crusty bits on your brows.  I did prefer the Make Up For Ever one I had previous to this however

What have I replaced this with?  An Anastasia brow gel I got from Sephora in the US-it's just a trial size which is probably better seeing how filthy they get.


Would I repurchase?  I'd probably go back to the Make Up For Ever for the same price

If you like my blog I would love you to say hi and follow me on

Bloglovin        Twitter          Instagram or on GFC!



Share:

No comments

Post a Comment

© Expat Make Up Addict | All rights reserved.
Blog Design Handcrafted by pipdig