*This post contains PR samples and affiliate links.
After a huge empties last month, I expected a smaller amount this month. Guess I was wrong! I can't believe we're half way through the year already!
Lani Tropical Body Treatment (PR, available from LoveLani.com for £15.99) - Lani are a great value, natural beauty brand. Plus they have gorgeous Instagramable packaging! This body oil smells wonderful and leaves skin super soft and hydrated.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I buy it? Yes I'll likely buy in the future.
Tula Kefir Replenishing Cleansing Oil (bought myself from QVC as part of a set, costs £22 on it's own. The set is better value!) - This is a wonderful, rich cleansing oil. It's the thickest I've come across and it's incredibly nourishing. It removes makeup easily and gently.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes once my current cleansing oil has run out.
Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Wash (was part of a Christmas gift set, similar available from Boots for £2.65) - This was a lovely creamy body wash that lathered nicely and left skin feeling soft and nourished. Smelled nice too - shea butter and vanilla.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I buy it again? Yes probably.
Dr Jart Porecting Solution (gifted from askmspark.com price dependant) - This was my first ever bubble mask! I liked it - it left my skin really hydrated. My pores looked clear too.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes especially if you like sheet masks.
Would I purchase it? Probably not as I prefer a modelling or traditional mask to a sheet mask.
Wow You Tropic Like It's Hot Face Scrub (bought myself, available from WowYou.com for £16) - This is a gorgeous, fruity scrub. It's both a physical and acid exfoliant. It does a fab job at smoothing skin. You get a large pot as well so it's great value. I ended up using this up on my body as it had been open a while (too many products open at once!). It was brilliant for that too!
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Probably not because I now use a different exfoliating product that works better for me (Jan Marini BioClear Lotion - review HERE.)
Wow You Super Serum (bought myself, available HERE for £18) - This serum certainly lives up to its name! It's a super hydrating gel that plumps skin and protects it from free radicals. It smells gorgeous too - it's a light floral scent. This is a perfect everyday serum that works well with everything.
Marks out of 10: 10!
Do I recommend it: Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes I already have.
Dr Jart Vital Hydra Solution sheet mask (gifted from askmspark.com price dependant) - Another great hydrating mask from Dr Jart. I did find that it was a bit large for my face though.
Marks out of 10: 7
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I purchase again? Probably not as I prefer a modelling or traditional mask to a sheet mask.
Dr Jart Dermask Shaking Rubber Soothing Shot modelling mask (gifted from askmspark.com price dependant) - I really love these masks from Dr Jart. You get two sachets - one runny liquid, one thick paste. You empty both of these in the container and shake to mix. You then apply the mix using the spatula supplied. You've only got a few minutes to apply it before it sets. It's super cooling and pleasant. It sets quickly and is comfortable, not tight. You peel off after 10-20 mins. It peels of easily, without pulling or tugging. It leaves skin super soft and soothed - love it!
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I buy it? Yes definitely!
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (bought myself, available HERE for £19.50) - I've gone through a few bottles of this now and can't be without it! It really does work. You can read my full review of it HERE.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Already have.
Oribe Glaze for Beautiful Colour (GWP, available HERE for £51) - This was my first Oribe product and I had high expectations. It was a really unusual sticky texture. It's to be used after shampooing and conditioning as an extra step. It's meant to intensify hair colour and shine. I was disappointed with it. It smelt lovely and left my hair soft, that was it. No change or brightening to my colour treated hair at all. Certainly not worth the price in my opinion.
Marks out of 10: 4/10
Do I recommend it? No
Would I buy it? No
Nura Soothing Dry Body Oil (gifted, available HERE for £14) - This lovely rich oil contains a blend of 6 essential oils to nourish and hydrate skin. I applied to damp skin straight from the shower. It absorbs really well and leaves skin feeling lovely.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Would I purchase? Yes definitely in the future.
Kate Somerville Exfolikate (GWP, available HERE for £71) - This is an intensive exfoliating treatment, ideally used once a week. I love it - it's strong and really leaves skin smooth and clear. If you can't get hold of Drunk Elephant Baby Facial - this is a great option instead. It's not cheap but it really does the trick!
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase it? Once I've got through my 2 bottles of Baby Facial, yes.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 20 (received as a gift in a set, available HERE for £20) - This is not empty but is over two years old now so is ready for the bin. It's a brilliant lip balm. It's basically the Eight Hour Cream with added SPF.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I purchase it? No only because I've found one from L'Occitane that I prefer. I managed to get 3 tubes for £20 from QVC UK HERE and it's SPF 30.
Coconut Babe Body Scrub from Wow You Beauty (bought myself, available HERE for £17) - This is a physical body scrub made from coffee grounds and coconut oil. I adore anything coconut and coffee scented. The scrub turns creamy when rubbed onto damp skin, leaving it super soft. I love the scent and how it leaves my skin feeling but I can't get past the mess of the coffee grounds. I've been the same with others I've tried. It drives me mad. It's a shame as it's gorgeous! Purely personal preference though, not the product.
Marks out of 10: 9/10 performance wise but overall for me personally 6/10 because of the mess
Do I recommend it? Yes if you love a coffee scrub
Will I repurchase? No but I'm going to try their salt scrub next.
Mask and Chill from Wow You Beauty (PR, available HERE for £17) - This is a gorgeous mud mask that's different to most I've tried. It's very gentle and doesn't strip skin. It calms and soothes but still manages to help with oil and congestion. Brilliant stuff!
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I buy it? Yes at some point.
Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil (bought myself, available HERE for £38.50 for 100ml) - I adore pretty much everything from Elemis, especially the Frangipani range. I'm often sensitive to fragrance but absolutely adore this scent. The oil itself is gorgeous. I apply to damp skin straight from the shower. It absorbs well, it's not greasy and it leaves skin baby soft and smelling amazing. The scent lasts too. The only slight downside is the packaging. The lid is small and fiddly. I've nearly lost it down the plug hole numerous times. The oil sets when it's cooler - it makes a great temperature gauge in the bathroom!
Marks out of 10: 10/10! It's my holy grail body oil.
Do I recommend it? Yes!
Will I repurchase? Definitely! But sadly not at the moment. It's not the cheapest so I'll wait until it's on offer somewhere. Plus I've got a few other oils to use up first.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster (bought myself, available HERE for £40) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to re-cap - this serum is AMAZING!! Since using it my acne as cleared up - almost completely! I've had one or two small spots but no big huge cysts like I was getting. My skin is just all round in better condition. It definitely took time to work though - don't expect instant results. It layers well with everything too.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Duh yes!
Will I repurchase? I already have! Although I am trying another Niacinamide product first to give it a go.
Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum (bought myself as part of The Littles set, available HERE in full size for £50) - You can read my full review of this HERE as part of my Drunk Elephant brand review. To re-cap this is a nice, light, hydrating serum, It doesn't wow me.
Marks out of 10: 5/10
Do I recommend it: I'd suggest getting a sample, it might work better for you.
SVR Xerial Peel Exfoliating Foot Mask (PR, available to buy HERE for £17) - This was my first foot peel and it came at the perfect time. My feet were definitely not summer ready lol. It was easy to use. The acid smelt very strong which I didn't expect. This worked brilliantly. Within a few days of use my feet shed their skin. It was gross but amazing at the same time. I couldn't believe how much came off - it was like the scene from Alien when they find the chest-burster's skin after its grown into the alien. My feet are super soft and smooth though! It worked a treat.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I buy it? Yes definitely.
May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon Beauty Balm Concentrate (bought myself, available HERE for £159 for 50ml) - Yep that's not a typo, it really is that expensive! The Blue Cocoon is probably one of the most coveted expensive beauty products around and for good reason. It you've not had the pleasure of trying any of May's products, you're definitely missing out. All her products are designed to be a sensory experience. The brand is all about self care. The Blue Cocoon is a multi-use balm that is designed to soothe and calm skin. It's main ingredient is blue tansy which gives it it's gorgeous colour. It smells almost like white chocolate. I absolutely loved this balm, it really lived up to the hype but sadly it didn't love me! I was fine using it occasionally but as soon as I started using it daily, I had milia form on my chin and next to my mouth. It's fantastic for using when you skin is stresses out or if you're dry from using retinol or acids.
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes but be cautious if you're acne prone like me.
Will I repurchase? Maybe. It was too rich for me to use daily but it seemed wasteful to keep it for occasional use. You get a generous 50ml and you only need the smallest amount so it's very unlikely you'll get through a full pot, in the 12 months it's recommended for it to be used within. I'm sure it might last a bit longer than 12 months but it would still be hard going to finish it. I couldn't justify keeping it, for it to go off and be wasted. This issue has been a common theme in the skincare community, with lots of requests for a smaller pot. I ended up selling mine, in sample pots so others could get a chance to try it. I would definitely repurchase a small pot for occasional use if May released one.
A.Florence Skincare Super Serum (Gifted, available HERE for £13 for this size or £33 for 30ml) - This serum certainly lives up to its name! It was a Beauty Shortlist Award winner this year and for good reason. It's a gorgeous silky, light emulsion that contains 10% Vitamin C (5% Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and 5% Ascorbyl Glucoside), CoQ10+, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides and a whole host of other amazing natural ingredients. This is designed to brighten, protect from pollution, nourish and hydrate. It delivers on all of these. It's amazing! The types of Vitamin C used are specifically chosen to be gentle to skin, so it's a brilliant option if you're sensitive to L-Ascorbic Acid.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes - to everyone!
Will I purchase it? I already have. This will be a product that I'll come back to time and again.
Montagne Jennesse Black Raspberry Body Scrub (Present from a friend) - Well this smelt just heavenly! Honestly smelt good enough to eat haha. It was a gorgeous creamy consistency with some gentle scrubby bits. It left my skin feeling and smelling great!
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Would I buy it? Yes, I'll be keeping an eye out for these!
Huda Resting Boss Face Setting Mist (bought myself, available HERE for £27) - This wasn't an empty but it's a product that didn't work for me. I bought this after watching Wayne Goss's YouTube review - he spray's this over eyeshadow that he's put on his arm, then rubs it - it doesn't smudge at all! Amazing! I should have listened to his warning that it was very strongly fragranced. It's seriously strongly scented and instantly gave me a head ache. I do have sensitivity to fragrance, usually perfume but I'm usually fine with anything that goes on my face. In fact I usually prefer some scent in a product, especially skincare. I find fragrance free boring lol. So sadly this didn't work for me.
Marks out of 10: As I washed it off within minutes of applying, I didn't properly test it so can't mark it. However, even if it worked amazingly well, it would be marked down for the fragrance - there is no need at all for that amount of fragrance in a product that's going on your face!
Do I recommend it? Unless you're ok with very, very strong fragrance in your makeup, I'd avoid it.
Will I repurchase? No.
Jordan Samuel Skin The After Show Treatment Cleanser (bought myself, available HERE for $20 for this 94ml size tube, there's also a giant 240ml for $43 and 15ml samples for $9) - I adore everything about this cleanser! It's a fruity smelling clear gel, that melts down into an oil. It obliterates makeup and gives the perfect slip for massaging your face. It contains fruit extract acids to gently exfoliate and keep pores clear. It's so gentle though and doesn't sting eyes so it's fine to remove eye makeup with. I love it.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I Recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes I already have.
SVR Sebiaclear Serum (Gifted, available HERE for £25) - This serum contains 4% Niacinamide and 14% Gluconolatone which is a PHA (an acid suitable for sensitive skin). I hoped this could be a cheaper alternative to my Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide booster. Sadly this didn't work for me. After about 5 days of using, I started to get spots again. This was the only product that I'd changed in my routine. I don't think the spots were caused by this serum. I think it was more that my skin reacts really well to 10% Niacinamide and going down to 4% just wasn't enough. I suppose I could have continued using it alongside the PC Niacinamide which I started using again straight away, but that would mean not using another serum in my routine, which I'm not willing to do. However the serum itself was a lovely, silky consistency. You can tell it contains silicone, which makes it a great AM option. It hydrated skin well. It is fragranced but it's light and pleasant. It was a shame it didn't work for me because aside from that, I liked it!
Marks out of 10: 3/10
Do I recommend it? I'd suggest getting a sample. Just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it wouldn't work for you. Especially if you're not relying on a high % of Niacinamide like I am,
Will I purchase it? No.
Formula Skin Solutions Deeply Nourishing Mask (Gifted, available HERE for £14) - Sadly another product that I didn't get on with, which I was gutted about because I loved it!! This is an super thick, intensely nourishing coconut scented cream mask. It's like a hug for your face, leaving skin so soft and plump after using. It can even be left on and rubbed in! Unfortunately for me, it was too rich for my acne prone skin and gave me a couple of spots. Luckily there's two other masks in this range that work brilliantly for my skin.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Definitely, just not for acne prone skin like mine.
Would I purchase? No.
Beauty Pie Japanfusion Pure Transforming Cleanser (Bought myself, available HERE for £5.82 for Beauty Pie Members) - The infamous Japanfusion cleanser! The hype around this cleanser is definitely justified in my opinion. It's a gorgeous gel / cream consistency, then melts to an oil, that melts to a milk. As Caroline Hirons would say - it's lush. The texture of it is that good, I don't even care that it doesn't smell of anything. (I love my cleansers to have a bit of a scent, for a full sensory experience). It removes makeup brilliantly too. You can check out my full Beauty Pie review HERE, there's also a link so you can get your first months membership free!
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase it? Already have! Plus a back up too.
And that's it for this month! Another lengthy empties post - thanks for reading!
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