HUGE Empties post!

For the past 3-4 months I’ve been trying to use up skincare, haircare and bodycare products because I felt fed up with hoarding! And this was the result! A huge empties post in front of you! Let’s dig in!

Skincare

I finished up several Michael Todd True Organics products as they are the skincare regime I use for the past six months. Two of the Blue Green Algae toners, a Charcoal Detox Deep Pore Gel Cleanser and an Antioxidant Carrot Multivitamin Serum. I love each one of them and have already repurchased all of them (you can read a full review on the line here)! I’ve also used up a Nuxe Aroma Perfection Anti-Imperfection Care moisturiser which is one of the best out there (I've done a review on that in the top moisturisers for oily skin post). I’ve also used up my Caudalie Beauty Elixir face mist (*snif*) which I totally love the smell of. It’s very rejuvenating and hydrating but it's a little bit pricey! Another moisturiser that I’ve gone through is the Avene Mattifying Fluid which I enjoyed a lot; it’s mattifying indeed and feels very lightweight. I haven’t repurchased that one because I’ve found another HG mattiffying moisturiser; go ahead on that face moisturisers post! The Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm has been my go to eye cream, very hydrating and lightweight and an excellent base for your under eye concealer. I already have 2 more in my drawer! For removing my eye makeup I finished one of the L’oreal Gentle Eye and Lips Makeup Remover Waterproof and I’m already using the next one. Another cleanser that I used up is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Deep Cleansing Foaming Cream which I didn’t like at all. Although it’s supposed to be a cream cleanser it leaves my oily skin stripped and uncomfortable.  It doesn’t remove makeup that well and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Another favourite that I go through like nobody’s business is the Apivita Lip Care lip balm with Cocoa Butter which is the most moisturising stick lip balm I’ve found so far. I will definitely repurchase when I use up the rest of the 49 lip balms I have hanging around!

Bodycare

I’ve sadly gone through my The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Scrub and the Vanilla Bliss Body Butter which I’m thinking of repurchasing but trying to find a cheaper alternative, because they cost 15€ each and I go through them so quickly. The L’oreal Nutri Soft 24-hour body milk was a product that has been in my cupboard since summer. It’s a lightweight body lotion that I really enjoyed back then, it smells nice but it definitely doesn’t give you the 24-hour hydration that it promises you; I wouldn’t repurchase that one. On the opposite side is the Bath and Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Cream which is super hydrating, leaving no residue after application, and it smells sooooooooo freaking good! I will definitely repurchase it when I get into a BBW shop again (which is very soon fingers crossed). The Pure Coconut Hand and Nail Cream did not leave me very satisfied. It was very sticky and you could feel that you had a hand cream on, which is a feeling I hate. I used it on my feet though, where it did a very good job! Another The Body Shop product is the White Mask Eau de Toilette for men that Mike has used up. He didn’t like it that much he said because, although he liked the scent, it didn’t linger for more than 2 hours.

Haircare

I’ve used up 2 L’oreal Elvive Shampoos, the Anti Hair Fall with Arginine* and the Smooth & Polish one with Keratin. I liked them both a lot, Elvive are my favourite shampoos anyway, they lather up really well and cleanse thoroughly. I will repurchase them if I find them on offer, but I like changing up my shampoos and always like trying new ones. The Aussie Frizz Miracle conditioner was a so-so one. For the price I expected it to be a lot more moisturising and detangling. It let me down a bit but I’ve found another one from the brand which does exactly what I want for my hair. The Syoss Hair Mask for Coloured Hair was the last product I had left from the brand and if you’ve read my previous Haircare Empties they have let me down a lot, although I really liked them at first and used to buy them in a bunch. I wouldn’t repurchase that one, I found that it did nothing for my hair. I’ve also used up the MEY Anti Hair Loss lotion which was prescribed to me by the dermatologist back when I was suffering from hair loss, but you can get it from any online pharmacy without prescription. With all the anti-hair loss products I’m facing the same problem; I don’t see any results! It was ok, it didn’t make my hair greasy and it smells really nice, but in terms of results I can’t tell you I saw any.

Makeup

That’s my problem category when it comes to empties, I don’t seem to go through makeup products but I only see them pilling up in my drawer! I’ve only used up a Korres Blush in Natural which I did enjoy a lot; as the name suggests it’s a very natural shade with very slight shimmer that can be used both as a blush and a bronzer. I would definitely repurchase that if I didn’t have another 20 blushers! Also, my beloved Makeup For Ever Waterproof Aqua Lash mascara is finished (for a full review click here) and I’m already using a brand new one; I can’t live without it, it’s totally awesome!

Disappointing products

I left these for last because I was going through my bathroom stash and I found those products that although I was keeping, decided that I’m never going to use up. So I said no to hoarding and made room for new ones. The first one the Every Day Natural Fresh Intim Wash with organic chamomile and aloe which was ok but I’ve stopped using it since I found a better one, which was like a year ago (I really don't know why I've keeping it, for the day that the drugstore would be all out of intim washes?!)! However, I would recommend it to anyone, it’s cheap and it doesn’t irritate you at all. The Phyto Express Conditioner was a PR Sample that I didn’t manage to use up. I tried it 3 times and it was like I hadn’t put conditioner on. It didn’t make my ends softer or detangle my hair. I also had 2 facial scrubs by Frezyderm, which is a brand that dermatologists love and usually suggest you buying their products when you are an acne sufferer. I hated both the Frezyderm Facial Scrub Exfoliating Skin Purifier and the Frezyderm Acnorm Peeling Gel. They were very harsh for my sensitive face, they made my skin itchy and I had a burning sensation. Let alone I used to break out every single time a day after I used them. I’ve been gravitating more towards natural ingredients for my skincare and Frezyderm and the harsh chemicals that they contain do not tick my boxes anymore. The Sally Hansen No More Breaks Nail Strengthener was a total disappointment! I got them like 3 years ago (?) when I was in the UK but it was awful. It made no difference on my nails and it kept flaking on the second day every time I tried applying it. I decided to toss it although I have more than half of it left. 

Wow, that was a long one. You can’t believe how relieved I am that I finally did this post and I can toss those in the bin, right? When Mike saw me with a big plastic bag ready to take the empty boxes to the recycling bin I think he might have suppressed his urge to applaud!

Thanks for sticking with me till the end and let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of them!

Georgina x x x