Beauty Empties 4

Well, back to lockdown means only one thing - apparently I have time for blog posts again! Since I can’t leave the house much (or at all), I’ve mostly been walking about with some kind of new beauty product I’m trying out on my face. It’s safe to say I’ve used up quite a few bits since I last made an empties post, so prepare for a beauty dump!

Chantecaillle Faux Cils Mascara

This one was a sample - I can’t face paying a ton of cash for a mascara I’ve never tried out before. What if I hate it?? As it goes, I wasn’t actually a huge fan of this. The formula was quite wet, and felt more natural and lengthening to me than volumising, which basically made my already long lashes look a bit like spiders legs. Not ideal. I would say this is perfect for those who love a natural look and can deal with quite a heavily scented product. My eyeballs cannot. No repurchasing for me. Check out the mascara here.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Dipbrow Gel

Brow gel is just about the only thing I can safely do to my old grandpa brows without making them look crazy, and thanks to my dark hair colour I’ve found it hard to get brow gels that are a good match without looking like I’ve stuck some brown paste on my brows. I loved how dark the Dipbrow Gels went, and the colour match didn't disappoint. Super quick and easy to apply with the teeny tiny applicator. My brows looked really natural and not stuck down at all. At first the applicator brings out a lot of product, but this decreases the more you use it, and I really loved the staying power. Check it out.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Spot Correcting Moisturizer

When I went back to work, the maskne situation was very real. All around my chin, mouth and cheeks began to break out thanks to wearing a mask 8+ hours every day. I found two of the Caudalie Dark Spot Correcting Moisturizers while I was digging through my stash of things to try, and have since finished both of them. I’m also in the middle of using the Radiance Serum. I love all of it, and found that the moisturisers definitely helped my acne scarring to disappear much faster than usual. The formula is lightweight and sinks into the skin fast, making makeup application easy and quick in the morning. I know the scent bothers some people, but I actually loved it (I know, I love a scented product!), and didn’t feel like it irritated my skin at all. I really love Caudalie as a brand, and will be repurchasing the moisturiser and more from the range to help with my acne battle. Have a look here.

Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream

Having heard so many people rave about this cream I was really dying to try it. Obviously from the name, I knew it would be a balm texture and quite thick. Let me tell you, I was not prepared. The cream was so thick. Like, so so sooooooo thick. Unfortunately for me and my oily/combination skin, this meant that I mostly just felt caked in oil and my skin felt so heavy and loaded. I think maybe during winter, or on a trip somewhere cold I could probably get behind it, but as my skin goes just now unfortunately it’s just not for me. This would really work for those with extremely dry skin, no wonder people rave about it! Sort out your dry skin needs here.

Garnier Miscellar Cleansing Water

I will forever be a diehard fan of the Garnier Miscellar Water. For the days I just can’t be bothered, this is a complete lifesaver. It’s so refreshing and cooling after an initial cleanse with an oil based cleanser, removing the last bits of stubborn mascara gently and without stinging. I’ve tried a few micellar waters, and keep coming back to the Garnier. I don’t think there’s much point in going for higher price points, this does the job and then some.

Jo Loves White Rose and Lemon Leaves

I honestly don’t think that Jo Malone can do any wrong when it comes to creating fragrance. When her new brand launched, I was all over it. I tried Pomelo (amazing), then found my way to the White Rose and Lemon Leaves scent. It’s fresh and floral and not overpowering in the slightest. When the candle is lit, it lightly fills the room. The rose scent is not cloying at all, and the lemon leaves give the candle a crisp undertone that makes it perfect for any room of the house. It transported me to somewhere sunny and warm (sob), and I was gutted when it finished. I’ll be treating myself to some more Jo Loves as soon as I can. Treat yourself here.

Sisley Izia

As a self confessed fragrance snob, I’m not usually the type of person to walk into a shop and just buy a new perfume without finding out everything I can about it first. And then making sure it’s not some mass produced crap that smells like every other perfume in a department store. Sue me. But when I was out shopping last summer I stopped by the Sisley stand and was obsessed with Izia. It’s sold as a rose scent, but honestly isn’t to me at all. It smells like summer, like holidays, and honestly kinda makes my mouth water. The middle note is of some special rose that only blooms once a year, and the base musky notes make it the perfect scent for day and night. I’m obsessed, and need more. In fact, I need the whole range - there are body products! Find your new favourite summer scent here.

Aveda Cherry & Almond Shampoo & Conditioner

I haven’t had much to do this year, and spent some serious time trying to figure out what kind of products my fussy hair actually likes. The Cherry & Almond range by Aveda seemed like a good shout for winter when my hair goes from being oily to slightly drier. Honestly, I expected more and was a little disappointed. My hair doesn’t love anything particularly heavy, and this really sat on there, weighing it down. It did a great job at detangling all the knots, and I didn’t hate the smell which could be too sweet for some. I love that the brand is vegan, and think the formula of the products are great. I’m going to try a different range for my hair type. If your hair needs to be softened up a bit, check it out.

Nature Lab Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub

I was, am, and always will be obsessed with this stuff. I’ve been collecting scalp scrubs in a drawer for ages, because I didn’t fancy the faff, and didn’t think they would be a good product for my hair. How wrong was I?? I used this once a week instead of shampoo, to clear all the buildup at the roots of my hair and leave it feeling light and super clean. It has the strangest texture, like little bubbles that gently exfoliate the scalp and dissolve away to nothing in the hair. Thanks to the hyaluronic acid, my hair feels super moisturised and lustrous, it smells amazing, and works like a dream. I would recommend it to anyone who uses product on their hair. You need to try it!

Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil

This will always be a go-to product for my dehydrated skin. My skin can get super textured, especially in winter, and this oil works wonders to help restore the natural moisture. Best used at nighttime, it does take a while to sink in, but I don’t mind going to bed like a greaseball if I can wake up looking less like a corpse and more like my teenage self (why didn’t I take proper care of my skin back then??) I’m normally not a huge fan of essential oils., but my skin doesn’t react to this oil blend at all. It smells amazing and is the perfect final step in my nighttime skincare routine. Get yours.

Farmacy Honey Grail Face Oil

There are very few products I don’t persevere through to the end with. This was the first one in ages. I really reeeeeeeally wanted to love it, as it’s the first Farmacy product I’ve tried. It just did not work with my skin at all. At first I couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden I was constantly breaking out. After a few months of eliminating and trying different things I found out it was this. The formula is just far too heavy for my skin, which isn’t something I ever have a problem with. As you can guess from the name, it smells quite strongly of honey and has the exact same gloopy, thick texture. I would imagine this would only work on those with the worst dry skin, who needed something that was going to take forever to fully penetrate. A definite overnight product for anyone trying it. Check it out here.

Ameliorite Transforming Body Lotion

This is the most reasonably priced miracle product I think I’ve ever tried. I have some Keratosis Pilaris on the skin above my knees, and had heard this was the go-to product to deal with it. Within a few uses the annoying little bumps had started to even out. Friendly warning though - do not use this after you shave your legs because it stings like nothing else. The body lotion gently resurfaces the skin, and leaves it smooth and supple after a few uses. It doesn’t smell amazing, but sometimes the effects are better than fragrance, right? I would recommend to anyone suffering with KP, those with very dry skin and even those with ingrown hairs. And it starts at only £9! Total bargain. Try it out.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy

Right now, I go through lip balms just about as fast as hand creams. Wearing a mask does my dry lips no favours, and neither does spending so much time in the house with the central heating on. I tend usually to go for pot lip balms at night time since they seem to last longer on the lips, but this held up well during the night, and left my lips feeling less dry if not totally moisturised by morning. I don’t think it’s anything particularly special, and definitely not one of my favourite Fresh products, but it did the job. Would I pay £21.50 for another one? Probably not, but if you fancy it you can find it here.

REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Mattifying Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum

I’m really trying to be better about applying SPF Every.Single.Day. I live in Scotland and it’s the dead of winter, but now that I’ve hit 30 I’m really starting to notice the benefit of a good factor 50. Even when it’s miserable and raining. So my ongoing challenge for 2021 is to find my perfect sunscreen. As far as the REN goes, I’d give it a solid 6.5/10. the texture was lovely (my biggest pet peeve with daily spf is the greasy feeling it leaves on the skin), and it dried down pretty matte on the skin. However, I did find that it left a slight white cast. And that’s coming from me, Morticia’s sister. I definitely wouldn’t be recommending this to anyone with a darker skin tone for every day, but I did like the slight scent and the finish was a winner. I’d recommend it to surfers/those spending a lot of time in the elements. Check it out here. Now, onwards with the spf discovery!

Since lockdown is still ongoing in Scotland I can’t see me having any travel content any time soon, so plenty more empties to come whilst I sit in bed eating chocolate and looking at beach pictures on Instagram!