An obsession with skincare, makeup and all things beauty. Honest reviews and opinions.

Saturday 2 May 2020

April Empties 2020

*This post contains affiliate links and PR items. 
Feelunique (UK) 
Conunat Eye Cream (PR, available HERE for £18.95) - This is a light, hydrating eye cream that contain caffeine and hyaluronic acid. It was nice enough to use but didn't wow me.
Marks out of 10: 5/10
Do I recommend it? It you're looking to hydration, yes.
Will I repurchase? No


Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster (bought myself, available from Paula's Choice, Space NK, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique and Skin City for £41) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to recap - it's an absolutely fantastic serum. This must be bottle 5 or 6 now, which shows how much I love it! It's very lightweight, almost like water like. It absorbs easily and is really hydrating. With prolonged use it helps control oil, meaning my pores look more refined.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? I've got a bottle ready to go in my stash but I'm testing out another niacinamide serum first.


Kate Somerville Eradikate Treatment (bought myself, available from Kate Somerville, Space NK and Cult Beauty for £22) - You can read my original review of this HERE but to recap - this is a holy grail product for me. I've gone through numerous bottles of it now. It's a concentrated mix of salicylic acid and sulphur which help clear up the spot with calamine lotion to cover it and keep it clean. It can flatten and reduce spots overnight. It's potent though, I won't use it more than two days in a row else it can cause dryness.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it: Yes
Will I repurchase? Already have. This will always be in my skincare stash.


Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask (GWP, available from Fresh, Space NK, Cult Beauty for £29-77) - There's a lot of hype surrounding this mask and I can see why! It's the most beautiful texture - it's like a fluffy, smooth mousse! It's feels very cooling and tingly (in a good way) when applied. It leaves skin feeling great! Really soft and revitalised.
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes


Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum (bought myself, available from Space NK and Cult Beauty for £76-113) - This is my all time favourite exfoliating serum. Nothing gives me smooth, clear skin quite like it! It's super effective but still gentle enough for me to use it daily alongside retinol.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Already have.


Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Booster (PR, available from Super Facialist and Boots for £18) - This is a lovely light serum that can be used on it's own or added to your moisturiser as a booster. It absorbs well and is nicely hydrating. It contains 1% Vitamin C so is very gentle and would be a perfect introduction to Vitamin C. I personally prefer a higher %.
Marks out of 10: 5/10
Do I recommend it? If you're a seasoned Vitamin C user, no. If you've not tried Vit C before, yes.
Will I repurchase? No.


L'oreal Revitalift Filler + Hyaluronic Acid serum (PR, available from Boots, Look Fantastic and Feel Unique for £25) - This is a nice hyaluronic acid serum. It leaves skin well hydrated and plump. The only thing I wasn't keen on was the fragrance. It's not unpleasant or particularly strong but I'm sensitive to certain scents (they give me migraines).
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes my issue with it is purely personal.
Will I repurchase? No, there's other hydrating serums that I prefer.


Samaya Kapha supplements (PR available HERE for £39) - These supplements have some amazing ingredients including Turmeric, Hyaluronic Acid, CoQ10 and Vitamins A &E. I didn't notice any drastic changes in my skin whilst taking these but it can be hard to measure with supplements. You often need a few months of taking them to see results plus what works for one, doesn't work for another.
Marks out of 10: 5/10
Do I recommend it? Yes they're worth a try
Will I repurchase? No.


Indeed Labs Squalane oil (PR, available HERE for £19.99) - This is a gorgeous light, hydrating oil. It's perfect for acne prone skin like mine. You only need a couple of drops so it lasts ages. The only downside is that it has to be used within 6 month, hence there being loads left!
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do  I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes at some point.


MOR Marshmallow Sugar Crystal Body Scrub (PR, available HERE for £23) - This is a gorgeous body scrub. It's sugar in an oil base so isn't too harsh and is very moisturising. Smells lovely too!
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Probably not as I prefer the Beauty Pie body scrub more.


BYBI Bakuchiol Booster (gifted in return for an honest review from Boots Review Panel, available HERE for £12) - This is a hydrating, light oil that absorbs quickly and easily into skin. It can be used alone or added to a moisturiser.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it: Yes
Will I repurchase? Probably not as I don't use oils that often.


BYBI Strawberry Booster (gifted in return for an honest review as part of Boots Review Panel, available HERE for £12) - This is quite a thick oil so I preferred to mix it in with my moisturiser. It's great to calm and hydrate skin.
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No


REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Gel (bought myself, available from REN, Space NK, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic & Feel Unique for £22) - This is one of my favourite cleansers and a constant repeat purchase. It's a beautifully, runny, silky gel that lathers nicely and leaves skin super soft and clean. It's incredibly gentle. A perfect morning or second cleanse.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Already have!


Tangerine & Grapefruit Bath Bomb (gift from a friend, price / origin unknown) - This has a lovely uplifting scent and left my skin nice and soft.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Would I repurchase it? Yes


Le Couvent Des Minimes Aqua Minimes hand cream (PR part of a set, brand is available from Look Fantastic) - This is a lovely citrus scented hand cream that left my hands lovely and soft. Unfortunately the scent of this gave me a migraine (I'm sensitive to certain fragrances).
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No


Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4Play Shower Cream-Gel (bought myself, available from Space NK, Feel Unique and Cult Beauty for £10 for this travel size) - This is a gorgeous shower gel. It's super creamy and leaves skin soft. Plus it has the same gorgeous scent as the Bum Bum cream.
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Already have. 


James Read 1 Hour Tan Glow Mask Face & Body (PR, available from Feel Unique for £35) - This was the first fake tan product that I've used. I'm mega pale so have always been scared to use one in case I was left looking like an Umpah Lumpah! I tried this twice using a mitt to apply it. It's a cream consistency and applied easily. It had a slight biscuity scent but wasn't unpleasant. I left it on for an hour both times and unfortunately could barely tell a difference when I washed it off! The only obvious areas where my knuckles which looked grubby. I think that I probably didn't apply enough of the product as I was being overly cautious. I could have left it on longer (it does say 1-4 hours despite being called 1 hour) but to be honest it was too much of a faff to try it again! I'm resigned to the fact that fake tanning isn't for me. I'll stick to being ghostly pale!
Marks out of 10: 1/10
Do I recommend it? No
Will I repurchase? No.


James Read H2O Tan Mist Face (PR, available from Skin City and Feel Unique for £20) - Now this one I actually liked! It's easy to use - you spray it on your face as the last step in your skincare routine. It did say it could be used over makeup but I didn't like the idea of that so I used it on a night. It has a biscuity smell but again it's not unpleasant. It definitely gave my face a lovely natural glow. It's not particularly long lasting, especially as I use acids / retinol. I found I needed to use it daily. As much as it worked well for me - I can't be bothered with the upkeep of it, especially as I don't tan my body. It looks odd having a tanned face but pale body. Plus it meant that my foundation looked too pale so that was enough to put me off using it to be honest. Great product, just not for me! I'll be passing both tan products onto a friend.
Marks out of 10: 8/10 
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No.


La Mer The Concentrate (free sample, available from Space NK for £155-390) - I'd been looking forward to using this sample as it was the first Le Mer product I've tried. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my bank account) it was a huge disappointment! It was the texture of it that really put me off. It feels more like a primer than a serum, it was like spreading pure silicone on my face! Now I'm not against silicone in skincare or makeup, it can be very useful but this was something else! It felt quite cloying and heavy. Not what I expected at all. I thought it would be a beautiful, light milky serum. At least it's saved me some money!
Marks out of 10: 2/10
Do I recommend it? No
Will I buy it? No.


Hello Day Sun Prime supplements (PR, available HERE for £27) - These are designed to help balance pigmentation and enhance your tan. Unfortunately as I've not been in the sun, I've not been able to tell if these work or not! The effectiveness of supplements can be so difficult to measure. I think it would be unfair for me to mark these out of 10 and recommend them or not because of this. 
Will I purchase them? No.


Skinceuticals Phloretin CF serum (PR, available from Skinceuticals & Look Fantastic for £150 or Skin City for £128) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to recap - this is the gold standard of Vitamin C serums. Skinceuticals absolutely nail it when it comes to vitamin C, which I reflected in the price. Yes it's expensive but it's worth it, as long as it's within your budget that is! It's brilliant to give skin a bright, even glow and to help fade pigmentation.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes at some point. I've got some others I want to test first.


Bioglan Beauty Collagen gummies (bought myself, available HERE for £18.99) - You can read my review of these HERE but to recap - These are my favourite collagen supplements. They're just like a sweet! It makes such a difference to my nails when I take these - they're much stronger and healthier. 
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend them? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes I've got them set up on monthly subscription at Holland and Barratt. They give you them at a reduced price then. Unfortunately they're out of stock at the moment so I've completely run out!


L'Occitane Shea Shower Body Oil (bought myself, available from Feel Unique for £19.50) - This was the first shower oil I've tried - it won't be the last! It's a beautiful gel / oil consistency that is super nourishing and gentle. It doesn't foam up or lather but it does emulsify with water. 
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes


Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair Repair Treatment (available HERE for £5.56 for Beauty Pie members - if you're not familiar with Beauty Pie - read my review HERE) - I used this in place of conditioner. It was ok, it left my hair soft but I didn't think it was any better than a regular conditioner. 
Marks out of 10: 5/10
Do I recommend it? For the price, yes but if you're hair is really damaged, no.
Will I repurchase? No


Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening and Exfoliating mask (GWP, available HERE for £43) - I wasn't really impressed with this. It's a physical and enzyme exfoliating mask. The physical scrub was really harsh on my skin and I usually like a scrub! It contains peppermint which is very cooling but which sometimes caused sensitivity. Plus the turmeric in it made it very messy! It can stain so I was very  cautious when using it. I ended up using it up on my body and even then I didn't manage to finish it all.
Marks out of 10: 1/10 
Do I recommend it? No
Will I repurchase? No


Dr Botanicals Lemon Superfood All-in-One Rescue Butter (PR, available from Look Fantastic for £17 for a tub) - This is a multi-use balm that can be used as a moisturiser, cleanser or treatment balm. It smells absolutely amazing - like lemons / lemongrass. I used it as a hand cream as it was super nourishing without being greasy or heavy. It would absorb instantly. 
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes especially if you hate greasy hand creams.
Will I repurchase? Yes.


Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream (bought myself, available from Space NK, Cult Beauty & Feel Unique for £15) - I absolutely loved this hand cream! It has the same gorgeous scent as the Bum Bum cream. It's really lightweight and absorbs instantly so there's no greasiness at all. 
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes


A.Florence Skincare Skin Rehab Light moisturiser (bought myself, available HERE for £31) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to recap - This is one of my favourite moisturisers. It's lightweight yet still incredibly nourishing and soothing. It's my go to after I've had a peel. Highly recommend. And don't worry I got every last bit out of the bottle once I'd taken this photo!
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes


REN Skincare Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask (bought myself, available from REN, Space NK, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique and Look Fantastic for £34) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to recap - This mask is fantastic and will always be a repeat purchase for me. It's a thick cream that instantly calms, nourishes and hydrates skin. If my skin is feeling stressed out or sensitive I always turn to this.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Already have.


And that's it for this month! Thanks for reading. 

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