Products I've Used Up

Hi everyone,

It's empties time again, and this time it's a variety of products that I've used up before and some of which that are completely new too me.

Boots No 7 Hydra Luminous Overnight Recovery Gel Cream

This is a lovely hydrating overnight moisturiser that is suited for people who have an oily/ combination complexion. It has a fairly lightweight formula, but if I actually used a little too much then it would take maybe a minute more to sink in. I also found that on somedays that the formula would sink in easier than others, as well as being a little more hydrating to the skin. So, it can be a little weird to use. But it is a nice, budget friendly hydrating moisturiser.

Boots No 7 Hydra Luminous Water Concentrate

This is the No 7 version of hyaluronic acid, and its not bad at all and my skin seems to respond well to hyaluronic acid serums. This has a slightly thicker consistency for a serum than what I'm used, but it did sink into the skin straight away. I actually preferred this to the Overnight Recovery Gel Cream, as I felt as this made my skin more plumped and hydrated.

Zoella Beauty 'Reach for the Moon' Hand Cream

This was a limited edition scented hand cream from Zoella Beauty from Christmas 2018. This had a lovely scent of vanilla and peppermint, and it had a slight cooling effect on the hands once it had been applied. I'm not too sure if the Zoella Beauty brand still exists, but I do have another one of these hand creams to use once I've finished using up a few others.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream

This is my favourite scent out of the entire Soap & Glory range, and I've gone through a few of the body butter creams over the years. It has a lovely thick consistency, which sinks into skin more or less straight away. I can also still smell the scent when I wake up the following morning. It also leaves my skin feeling nourished and hydrated.

Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel

This is one of my favourite ranges from the Body Shop, as it smells really luxurious. I've gone through quite a few these over the years, but I'm too sure if they have changed the formula of this particular shower gel as I had a mild itching sensation after using it. I'm currently using another shower gel from the Body Shop, and I haven't had any problems with it while I have been using it. I have one more of these within my Body Shop shower gel collection to use up. But at the moment I'm a little unsure if I would repurchase this scent in the future.

Andalou Naturals Meyer Lemon + C Creamy Cleanser

This was my first time in using a product from the Andalou Naturals range, and it was okay but it wasn't what I was expecting. The cleanser was supposed to have foamed up once it had come into contact with the water, but that never happened at all with this cleanser. I had to look up some reviews, and from what I found out numerous people were having the same problem. This cleanser also had a mild citrus scent, which was pleasant; and it did an okay job at cleansing my face in the morning. But I don't think this will be something that I would repurchase in the future.

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion

This was one of those toners that you had shake up before you used it, as all of the active ingredients are at the bottom. This could be quite an intense toner to use, so I only used once a week. But it does the job at controlling the oils, and it left my skin feeling refreshed once I had used it.

Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream

This was a lovely to use during the Winter months, as it gave my skin a good boost hydration and it lasted throughout the entire day. The Rose Ceramide Cream does have a slightly thick texture, but it does sink into the skin straight away. This is one moisturiser that I would repurchase, especially for the colder months of the year.

Listerine Stay White Mouthwash

I use the Listerine Stay White mouthwash as my second mouthwash after I have finished brushing my teeth. This is quite an intense mouthwash to use, but it is one that I enjoy using. I've currently got another one on the go at the moment.

Nivea Urban Fresh Avocado & Lemongrass Anti Perspirant Deodorant

I usually get along with Nivea deodorants, but this just didn't do for me and I think it was down to the avocado and lemongrass fragrance. It did a good as a deodorant, but I just didn't like the scent.

Nivea Rich Nourishing Deep Moisture Serum

I got this as part of one of my gifts that I received last Christmas, and this took me by surprise as it sunk into the skin straight away. It does have the typical Nivea scent, but it did leave my skin feeling smoother and hydrated.

Kiehl's Facial Fuel for Men

I decided to purchase this for myself to see if would help combat the oiliness of my complexion, and it did. But I think that it might had been just a little stripping of my natural oils. I did an excellent job as a cleanser, and it had a strong minty fragrance.

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner

This is a great product from Kiehl's if you have an oily complexion, but the only thing that I wasn't too keen on was that the calendula flowers that are inside it became a little cumbersome towards the end as they had a tendency to go all over the face.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This is a lovely facial oil to use as part of your evening skincare routine, and it does have a nice, relaxing lavender scent. It sinks into the skin straight away, and it also leaves it with a little bit of a glow.

Farmacy Lip Bloom in 'Lavender Mint' (Discontinued)

This was a lovely lip balm to use during the evening, and it left my lips feeling soft and smooth when I woke up the following morning. Unfortunately these have now been discontinued, which is a shame because I got just over twelve months of use out of that little pot.

MAC Natural Radiance Primer in 'Radiant Pink'

This is only a deluxe size sample from MAC, but I think I may have found a primer that my skin really likes. My make up stays on for hours with this primer, and even though this is a slightly glowy primer it works well with my oily complexion. I've got one more of these deluxe size samples, but this is one primer that I'm considering purchasing.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in 'Fair Light' (Discontinued)

This is such a wonderful concealer formula and it worked extremely well underneath my eyes, but unfortunately this has also been discontinued. So, I'm now currently on hunt for a replacement concealer that has a fair neutral undertone.

Review: Emma Hardie Brillance Facial Oil

Hi everyone,

I have been using the Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil within my evening skincare routine for a few months, so I thought I would share my thoughts on it with it.

I decided to purchase the Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil as I was wanting to try a different facial oil within my skincare routine, and this was the one that was recommended to me.

Claims

- A multi active, lightweight, dry nourishing facial oil complex including nine essential oils of Palmarosa, Orange, Mint, Vanilla, Geranium, Camomile, Lemon, Rose, Lavender and Omega 3 which all help to increase moisture levels and elasticity, as well as balancing the skin.

- Camelina 'Gold of Pleasure' oil contains powerful antioxidant properties to protect the skin from environmental damage.

Benefits

- Increases moisture levels

- Increases elasticity

- Balances the skin

- Provides antioxidant protection

Formulated Without

- Parabens

- Silicones

- Synthetic colours

- Synthetic fragrance

- Petrolatum

- Mineral oil

- Sulphates

- Animal ingredients

I'm really enjoying using the Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil within my evening skincare routine. This facial oil does have a thickness to it, which I wasn't expecting to have as I'm use to my facial oils being thinner in texture. Due to have a slightly thicker consistency you don't actually need to use as much; and I've found that three to four drops to be enough. It does have a natural lavender fragrance similar to the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, but the lavender in this facial oil smells a little more natural. It also sinks into the skin straight away once it has been applied to the skin.

This is my first experience of using an Emma Hardie skincare product, and I'm really enjoying the experience. I would love the explore more of the Emma Hardie brand in the future.

Review: L'Occitane Aqua Reotier Water Gel Cleanser

Hi everyone,

I have been using the L'Occitane Aqua Reotier Water Gel Cleanser, as part of my morning skincare routine for the past couple of months, and I'm really enjoying it.

This is a lovely and refreshing cleanser that I like use as part of my evening skincare routine, and its also more of hydrating cleanser so it won't strip my skin of any of its natural oils.

Claims

- A gentle face cleanser that lifts away impurities & leaves skin clean, soft & comfortable

- Like splashing cold water on your face, this gentle face cleanser will invigorate your skin while lifting away impurities. The cool gel transforms into a light, supple lather, that leaves skin clean, soft & comfortable.

I'm really enjoying using this cleanser as part of my evening skincare routine, as its not only gentle of my skin but it also doesn't strip it of any natural oils. I've also found that you only need a tiny amount of this cleanser for it to be effective. This cleanser also has the mild, but refreshing fragrance that the other products from the Aqua Reotier range has. It's working really well for my oily/ combination skin at giving it just a little boost of hydration, while still getting rid of any build up from throughout the day. 

Everything I've Tried: Caudalie Edition

Hi everyone,

This post has been inspired by Rachel who runs the YouTube channel thingsbytheberk.

I'm going to talk to you about all of the products that I have used from Caudalie throughout the years. 
Caudalie was the first French skincare brand that I tried when I starting out on my skincare journey around 11 years ago.

Gentle Cleansing Milk

This is a luxurious creamy cleansing milk that gently removes make up, and gently cleanses the face all in one step. It is enriched with nourishing and soothing properties, and it also protects the skin from drying out while leaving the skin feeling clean, soft and comfortable. It has a very mild fragrance of lemon leaf, bergamot, lavender and sandalwood.

The Gentle Cleansing Milk from Caudalie was my first experience of trying out a cleansing milk around 10 years ago. It is a lovely gentle cleanser, and it also left my skin feeling slightly hydrated after using it. 

Beauty Elixir

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is inspired by the Youth Elixir of the Queen Hungary back in the 16th century. It is made up of 100% natural origin ingredients and plant extracts. It leaves the skin with an instant boost of radiance, as well as tightening the pores.

I think this was one of the first products that I had tried from Caudalie after it had gained a lot of hype on social media around eight years ago. The aromatic scent of the Beauty Elixir is lovely and calming. I use this more for its calming abilities, rather than a skincare step.

Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum

The aim of the Vinosource S.O.S serum is to give the skin an intense boost of hydration, as well as restoring the skin's natural moisture balance. It is also enriched with organic grape water, which helps to also soothe the skin.

This was one of the first hydrating serums that I had introduced into my skincare routine, as my skin was lacking in hydration. I still purchase this product, and it is now currently sitting within my daytime skincare routine.

Vine (Activ) Glow Active Anti Wrinkle Serum

This serum is packed with antioxidant polyphenols and these help to protect the skin from everyday aggressors such as pollution on a daily basis. 

I decided to try this as I was hunt for a Vitamin C based serum that would work within my skincare routine. This is a nice serum to have within a skincare routine, but it's also one that I have never repurchased; only because I'm still on hunt for a nice Vitamin C based facial oil/ serum that would work within my skincare routine.