Beauty Empties 2
June has been the quickest month in lockdown yet. I’ve had so much more time for skincare (and all of the relaxing baths), so here goes with another big list of June empties.
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence SPF30
I usually love everything about Drunk Elephant products, from the packaging to the formulas, but this one just didn’t work for me. I’m a little funny with my sunscreen anyway, especially those I plan on wearing day-to-day under makeup. My skin is quite oily, and the Drunk Elephant wasn’t quite magnifying enough. It took a long time to work through the slight white cast when applying, and I didn’t feel like it ever quite sunk in. I was a lot dewier than I wanted to be. I feel like it would be much better suited to those with drier skin. If that’s you, check it out here.
Molton Brown Delicious Rhubarb & Rose Hand Cream
Another month, another Molton Brown hand cream. Same lovely formula with a new gorgeous scent. This one reminds me of rhubarb and custard sweets - it makes my mouth water! The only thing I wish for these hand creams was that they were bigger! I’m now officially out of MB, and in desperate need of a restock. Shop some of my faves here - they have a sale on!
L’Occitane Repairing Shampoo
L’Occitane is a brand I haven’t used much of, and I’ve had this little sample in a drawer (waiting for the holiday that didn’t happen), so I decided to crack it open to try and revive my poor, dry, tired hair. I have to say, for such a small bottle it was a big hit. After a few uses my hair began to feel healthier and softer again. The scent wasn’t too strong, and the shampoo was light enough to not leave any buildup on my hair. I’m a convert. If you have dry lockdown hair too, then try it for yourself.
Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land
Where do I even start? Byredo perfumes are some of the most luxurious I’ve ever tried. A few christmases ago I had Bad d’Afrique, now my favourite winter scent. Since then, I’ve moved on to Rose of No Man’s Land - and I have another instant favourite! It’s the rose scent for those who don’t like florals (like me). The top notes are Turkish rose petals and pink pepper, which balance one another out immensely. The heart and base notes are a combination of raspberry blossom, Turkish rose absolute, papyrus and white amber. All in all, the perfect scent for a fresh spring/summer. Try my favourite non floral floral on their site.
Lixirskin Universal Emulsion
Okay sometimes I’m just too lazy to do a full skincare routine. I just want something quick and easy that I know is going to get the job done. Enter universal emulsion. It’s super lightweight and fast absorbing, which makes it ideal for those mornings when I just want to sleep in. It feels amazing under makeup, with no pilling issues, and actually leaves skin feeling moisturised all day. Also, how cute is the pink packaging? Save yourself some time in the morning and check it out.
Naobay Body Radiance Lotion
Apart from hand cream, body lotion seems to be the other product I fly through every month. I’m in a constant battle with my dry, scaly legs, and have tried just about anything to solve the issue. The Naobay Lotion was a little bit too light for me to get on with. On the rest of my body it was absolutely fine, it just wasn’t quite heavy enough for my legs. I’s perfect for those lazy mornings, when I want to jump out of the shower and have something that sinks into the skin super fast. It smelled light and fresh too, and didn’t clash with other fragrances. Have a look here.
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser
I’m a recent convert to Kate Somerville, and this was the one product I wasn’t sure I was going to like. I’m not a huge fan of physical exfoliants, and was a little wary of trying something that could be abrasive to my acne prone skin. Turns out it was actually a really gentle way to cleanse in the shower. The rough texture of my cheeks was mostly evened out within a few washes, and my skin felt a lot softer. My skin didn’t break out, despite the quite strong scent - to me it was like sherbet. It didn’t feel stripping or drying, and I absolutely loved it. I have another Kate Somerville cleanser on the go now! Check out Kates range.
Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate
I will forever be a Clarins girl. They were the first skincare brand I ever tried (thanks mum), and the one I still go back to again and again. Every Christmas I get a Clarins facial, and it’s the most relaxing experience ever. The spa smells incredible, and that’s what this tonic smells like. The rosemary, mint and geranium scent is really uplifting, and the essential oils leave my skin feeling super soft and refreshed. I love it either in a bath or a shower, it might be one of my favourite ever body products. Try it for yourself!
Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion
If I had to use one body product for the rest of my life, this would be it. The only thing heavy enough to do the job on my legs, and yet it’s still light enough to sink into the skin super fast. It smells like an absolute dream, and actually manages to firm up the skin too. I put an extra layer on my knees and elbows for an extra hit when I really need it. There is no residue ever left on the skin (I hate that greasy feeling), and I will absolutely be buying the luxury size I just saw on their website. Get one here.
Darphin 8- Flower Nectar Oil Cream
For some reason, Darphin is one of the most aesthetically pleasing brands packaging-wise to me. I love the whole look of the brand, and the spa feel of the packaging style, yet haven’t tried nearly enough from them to actually be able to tell if I like the products or now. This was a tiny sample size, and I can’t say I used it for long enough to know for sure if it made a huge difference to my skin. I loved the texture - being someone who hates the feeling of straight oil on my hands, I loved the fact that it was an oil infused cream. I didn't feel like it sunk in particularly fast, so was definitely more of a night time product to me, and my skin did feel smoother in the morning. The scent was lovely, though not strong enough to make me fear the dreaded breakout. I’ll be buying the full size at some point (maybe now since there’s a sale on). Shop the sale.
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Serum
Apparently I just love anything rose now, and Fresh is the place to go for rose based skincare. I’ve been loving Fresh for a while now (see the Fresh products from last month’s beauty empties), and have been trying as much as possible - so it’s safe to say there’s at least one Fresh product in every beauty haul I do now. The face serum is now one of my favourites, and the first time I’ve religiously used a serum every single night until I finished it. The perfect quick hit of instant moisture, I would recommend to anyone looking for something on the go. It layers well under makeup (or the multitude of other skin products I pile on after), and feels very soothing on the skin. I’ll be buying another one for when I can travel again, because I feel like it would be the perfect post sun product! Shop Fresh.
Diptyque Figuier Candle
Check me out finishing with a candle, and a fancy candle at that! I’ve never been much of a candle buyer, but I think trying out this amazing scent from Diptyque might have made me a convert. I’m always drawn to fig scents, and this one was no different. It smells green and fresh, and scents a whole room in no time at all. It’s one of those smells that reminds me of sunny days on holiday - and who doesn’t want to remember that?? The perfect scent for all over the house, as it isn’t too overpowering. I’ll be purchasing a big one soon. Have a look at the Diptyque website.
And just like that, another month of empties has been and gone. I keep thinking my product use will slow down, but I already have another little pile started for July - how is it almost July?? Hey, trying new things keeps me busy!
