Empties Edition 6

Beauty products I’ve used up

I have made another dent in my beauty stash, which can only mean one thing… It’s time for another empties, all about the beauty products I’ve used up.

It’s often bittersweet finishing a product. On the one hand, it means it was worth the money. As I used it all up, and it didn’t go to waste. On the other hand, finishing a product you really love that’s pricey, can leave a sting on your bank account, when it’s time to repurchase. Either way it makes for a great empties post, so once my basket is full, it’s time to pull out my empties for one last time and share my thoughts with you all.

If you missed my last empties catch up here.

**Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Makeup

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original | £17.50

I have been through a few tubes of the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. It’s one of those products, that one I discovered, I never went back. As I have hooded eyes, getting eyeshadow to last on me, has always been an issue. Primer Potion makes such a difference to the longevity of my eyeshadow. I also use a colour correcting concealer/primer underneath, as I find this really double its power.

My eyeshadow lasts longer, wears better and if I set it with powder after application, is easier to blend as well. If you’re an eyeshadow lover then investing in a primer, is a real game changer. The doe foot applicator is a good size and means one swipe on each lid, gives just the right amount of product. As you can overdo it and achieve the opposite effect.

As the shelf life is only 6 months, I do feel that there is more product then one person can get through, in that time and it feels quite wasteful. This tube is sadly half full but has dried out so it’s time to go, even though I use it 5-6 times a week.

This is a makeup essential for me and before I had run out, I made sure to get a backup. I have switched to the anti-ageing version. Which I must say, I don’t notice any difference in but at least I can convince myself it’s doing something.

Verdict: Have Repurchased

Benefit Bad Gal Bang! Mascara | £21.50 (for full size)

The Benefit Bad Gal Bang! Mascara, is Benefits latest mascara launch and unfortunately It’s not my favourite. I love Their Real and Roller Lash by Benefit but Bad Gal Bang! smudged on me a lot.

I love the wand, it’s a thin and flexible silicon with tiny bristles. Which goes against everything I thought I loved about mascara wands. It made it so easy, to evenly coat every lash, especially on my lower lashes which I find trickier to do. I love the way it made my lashes look, good length, volume and separation.

It’s also a lot easier to remove then Their Real, which is notorious for being stubborn to get off. I just can’t forgive a mascara that gives me panda eyes! I do have very water eyes, so that’s something to bare in mind. A lot of mascaras that cause smudging on me, seem to work well for others, so it’s really boils down to the individual. If they came out with a waterproof formula, I would be inclined to try it again but for now I will stick to Roller Lash and Their Real, when shopping for Benefit mascaras.

Verdict: Wouldn’t Repurchase

Benefit Lemon Aid Colour Correcting Eyelid Primer | £17.50

I have been using Benefits Lemon Aid for a few years but it has sadly been discontinued. So I have now switched to Mac’s Soft Ochre which does a similar job. I like to use this as my first eyelid primer, to conceal and correct my eyelids. Before going in with Urban Decays Primer Potion. Together they make my eyeshadow last all day. I’m sad it’s been discontinued but I’m glad to have found an alternative.

Verdict: Discontinued

Bodycare

L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil | £19.00 (for full size)

Well if this isn’t the most divine body product to have ever existed. The L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil is so luxurious and has the most delicious almond scent, that is totally intoxicating. As it mixed with water, the oil turns milky and slightly emulsifies. There isn’t anything I don’t love about this product. It’s gentle on the skin and feels richly hydrating. A little goes a long way, so this mini bottle lasted me around 10 showers.  If you suffer from dry and sensitive skin, I think you would love this product, as it’s so much kinder on my skin then a traditional foaming shower gel. This is a great gifting product too, I think I’m going to be giving this to quite a few friends and family to try, as I’m absolutely hooked.

Verdict: Would Repurchased

Rituals The Rituals of Sakura Foaming Shower Gel | £8.50 (for full size)

I’m such a big fan of Rituals and the Sakura Foaming Shower Gel didn’t disappoint. I have tired the Sakura body lotion before but I think the foaming shower gel is even better.

The cherry blossom scent is so delightful. The rich, thick foam is a real treat to use in the shower. It expands in the palm of your hand, just like a shaving foam but can be applied straight to the skin without the need for a sponge or shower lily. The luxurious and rich foam coats your skin, leaving behind a beautiful fragrance.

This little bottle didn’t last me too long, about 5 showers. However, it is a trial size and a ¼ of the full sized product. So although it’s a little on the expensive side, for a shower gel. It really is a lovely product to use and the scent is, in their words… zensational! I would definitely pick this up again for a pamper session.

Verdict: Would Repurchased

Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All Bubble Bath | £6.50

Is it possible to be addicted to Soap and Glory? because I think I might be. The Calm One and Calm All Bubble Bath has their signature pink scent, which is so candy sweet. I’m not a huge bath person, but when I do, bubbles or a bath bomb need to be involved. Calm One and Calm All creates bubbles a plenty, that soften your water and fills your whole bathroom, with its divine scent.

A little goes a long way and I found this bottle to last a really long time for me, so it’s well worth the price. I don’t find this to dry-out, or aggravate my dry and sensitive skin. It’s nicely nourishing and a real bath time treat.

Verdict: Would Repurchased

Skincare

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm | £52

If you listen closely, you can actually hear my sobs over finishing another jar of my most beloved cleansing balm; the Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm. I have been through a couple jars and despite the hefty price tag, I can’t recommend the Omorovicza cleansing balm enough. It’s amazing for dry skin and leaves my skin clean, clear and comfortable. Over time, my skin looks better and better.

I have tried so many cleansing balms but I don’t love anything as much as this one. It removes all traces of makeup and dirt effortlessly. The Hungarian Moor mud is detoxifying and purifying and my pores look visibly tighter. I find it leaves my skin so soft, and hydrated. Although it is more on the greasier side, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling heavy or coated. My skin is clean and clear and looks plumper. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this cleanser, it’s my holy grail. I’m currently trying to work through a stash of other cleansers, before I repurchase but I’m counting down the days till I can have this back in my life.

Verdict: Would Repurchased

Clinique Take off the Day Cleansing Balm | £23

Would it even be an empties if I didn’t include a Clinique Take Off the Day Cleansing Balm? I think I have been through more tubs of this than any other skincare product, I have ever brought. It’s my favourite makeup remover, as it gets rid of every scrap of makeup, including eye makeup effortlessly. Gentle on the eyes and I never need to scrub at my skin to remove everything. I truly love this stuff. I have tried so many makeup removers but nothing else compares, the Cauadlie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil comes close but still I always need a tub of Take off the Day in my bathroom cabinet.

Verdict: Have Repurchased

Lush Oatifix Fresh Face Mask | £8.50

I had 5 empty Lush tubs, so I was able to use their free face mask offer to try the Oatifix Fresh Face Mask. I love that Lush offers a free face mask when you recycle your pots. As I had never tired Oatifix, I decided to make it my pick.

I adore the smell of this mask, the oats, bananas and vanilla remind me of breakfast. It smells so good, you want to tuck into it with a spoon. This is a fresh face mask, so it had a very short shelf life. Even when kept in the fridge as instructed, it expired within a month. I usually do a face mask 2-3 times a week but I couldn’t get through the whole tub, before it expired, so don’t be fooled by its small size.

It’s not like me, to not fall in love with a Lush product but I wasn’t blown away by Oatifix. The texture makes it very messy and it doesn’t easily adhere to the skin, so I found it tricky to apply. My skin looked clear and felt comfortable after removing but I found it a little itchy during application. I can only presume I have a slight sensitivity, to one of the ingredients. As I found it a bit of a difficult product to work with, it’s unlikely I would choose Oatifix again. Still I can’t complain to much, as it was free and a great way to try something new.

Verdict: Wouldn’t Repurchase

Pai Rosehip Bioregenrate Oil | £24

Pai is such an underrated brand. The Pai Rosehip Bioregenrate Oil is a amazing for dry/sensitive skin, as its really gentle and deeply nourishing. It’s not a proactive oil in the same way that my favourite Cauadlie Vine Activ Overnight Detox oil is but it did help with my skins hydration and comfort levels.

The Rosehip Biroregenarate oil is bright orange and can stain a bit. I use about 5 drops each night and although you can feel it on your skin, the greasiness never really bothered me. I’m not a huge fan of the Rosehip scent, but I got used to it. I could see myself buying this again, as I did enjoy using it and I’m a huge fan of using oils on my skin at night.

Verdict: Would Repurchased

Haircare

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray | £23

The Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray is a nice product to have but not an essential for me. I feel like the name doesn’t really explain what this is, when I read hairspray, I think hold and hair management. In actuality, I find this makes my hair, a little naturally straighter and in general feel a little more manageable. It’s not really a styling product, but I can tell a difference in my hairs behaviour when I use it. The smell reminds me a bit of liquorice, which I don’t mind but may be not to everyone’s taste. I have been through a couple bottles of this, through the years and I often go back to it, as my hair can be a bit unruly and this helps keep it in shape.

Verdict: Would Repurchased

Colab Dry Shampoo in Fresh | £3.99

I’m not much of a connoisseur of dry shampoo but Colab doesn’t let me down. As I have dark brown hair, I find the white residue, that most dry shampoos leave behind, to be a real pain. Colab never leaves any residue in my hair, which is why it’s my go to product. I use dry shampoo quite sparingly, as it does make my scalp quite dry but it’s amazing to have on hand in a pinch. Such an inexpensive and handy product to have, I love it.

The packaging is super cute too and the fresh fragrance is really pleasant and not to strong. I already have another Colab scent in my bathroom, ready to save the day when I need it.

Verdict: Would Repurchased

Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading my empties. I love going through my empties drawer and picking out recent things I’ve used up to review. As often these products fall through the cracks on my blog. It’s always good to reflect on whether you enjoyed a product but want to return to something else, or if you feel like, you can’t live without a product. Although, there are a few I wouldn’t repurchase, this batch was mostly positive. I have been on a real kick for finishing things up, these past few months. Allowing me to make some room in my collection, so these posts are always fun to do for me, as I feel like I’m making a dent.

What have you used up recently?