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

Thursday 3 December 2020

November Empties 2020

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Space NK UK

Well December is finally here! Who's excited for Christmas?

Dermalogica Biolumin-C serum (PR, available from Dermalogica, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic & Skin City for £85 - it's often on offer so shop around!) - This is a lovely Vitamin C serum. It's a traditional serum consistency that's hydrating and absorbs easily. It also contains a Peptide and Lactic Acid to keep skin smooth. 
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No, there's other Vitamin C serums that I prefer more. 


Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum (bought myself, available from Cult Beauty for £28 8ml like this or £85 for 30ml) - I got 3 weeks use from this mini bottle. That was using it once a day, in the morning. It's a really unique serum - very thick consistency wise almost like a balm. It seems to melt into skin as you spread it. It feels warm when applied, which was a bit of a shock initially! As much as I enjoyed using this, it didn't wow me enough to buy it in full size. I don't think 3 weeks is enough to comment on it's effects really. 
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No.



REN Perfect Canvas Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser (bought myself, available from REN Skincare, Space NK, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique & Look Fantastic for £25) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to recap - this is a gorgeous first cleanse. It removes makeup and SPF easily and leaves skin feeling soft and clean. It has a light marzipan scent which I love!
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Probably at some point.



Algenist AA Barrier serum (gift from a friend, available from Space NK, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique & Look Fantastic for £80) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to recap - I adore this serum! This is my 3rd bottle of it now (kindly given to me by a friend after she didn't get on with it). It's a beautiful thick serum that feels like a hug for your face. It's packed with amazing ingredients that hept strengthen you skin barrier. It's brilliant to use after Retinol. Love it.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes to everyone!
Will I repurchase? Definitely! I'm testing out another similar serum at the moment but will repurchase this at some point in the future. 

Bioglan Beauty Collagen Gummies supplements (bought myself, available HERE for £18.99) - My go-to collagen supplement. I take two of these a day. They taste just like a strawberry gummy sweet! Since taking these, my nails grow much stronger and longer.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend them? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes, I have them set up on subscription so I get a new bottle every month.


Vice Reversa Micro Needling Pimple Patches (PR, available HERE for £18.99) - These are fantastic pimple patches that have loads of teeny tiny darts that stick in your skin, then dissolve. This gets the active ingredients like salicylic acid, deeper into you spot helping it clear up quicker. Don't worry, the darts are so small, they don't hurt. You feel an initial grip when applying but that's it. These are bigger in size to other micro needling patches that I've tried which is great it you get huge spots! These are the best treatment I've found for the blind spots that stay deep under your skin. The only downside is the price but for the technology involved in them, they're good value to be honest! I wouldn't use them on all spots, just the really stubborn ones.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend them? Yes 
Will I repurchase? Yes.



Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches (PR, available HERE for £22 for 30 pairs) - These gel patches are designed to be worn under your eye area. They contain caffeine and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, cool and depuff your under eye. They work brilliantly and are especially nice if you put them in the fridge first. The only issue is that they slip down a bit so it's best to sit / lay down whilst they do their thing. As much as I like these, I always forget to use them! They're definitely a nice to have product rather than a need to have (for me anyway).
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend them? Yes
Will I repurchase? Probably not. 


Good Molecules Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches (PR, available HERE for $18) - I didn't really get on with these. I found they stung my eye area a bit. Nothing too bad but it was enough to stop me using them. I'd say the Pixi ones are a much better option.
Marks out of 10: 2/10
Do I recommend them? No
Will I repurchase? No.


Avon x Lisa Armstrong All About The Base Priming Moisturiser (PR, available HERE for £15) - This is a lovely lightweight moisturiser that makes a great base for makeup It smells lovely - lemongrass, I think! It looks and smells very similar to Bobbi Brown's Vitamin Enriched Face Base. I wouldn't say it's a dupe for this though as it's very different in texture. The Avon one is much more lightweight. Both are lovely though, it just depends what you prefer. Personally I prefer the OG.
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase it? No



Filorga Meso-Mask (PR, available in full size for £44 from Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, Skin City or for £25.95 from All Beauty) - I was a bit hit and miss with this mask - sometimes it was fine othertimes it made my skin feel sensitised. It was fairly hydrating. 
Marks out of 10: 3/10
Do I recommend it? No
Will I repurchase? No.



Primark x Alex Steinherr Pore Balance clay mask (passed on from a friend, available from some Primark stores for £5) - This is a fantastic moussey clay mask, especially for the price! It's great for clarifying pores and controlling oil.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Would I repurchase? Yes if my local store ever stocks it.



Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask (bought myself, available HERE for £24.60 - use TORIA10 to save 10% affiliate code) - This is such an unusual mask! It can be washed off or left on overnight. It's such an unusual texture - like a jelly / pudding! It leaves skin soft after use. It's nice but it didn't wow me.
Marks out of 10: 5/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No



Algenist Clarifying Pore Corrector Mask (PR, doesn't look like this is available anymore) - This is a lovely clay mask. It's very fresh / tingly as it has a menthol scent. After use, skin is soft and pores are clear.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No as it's not for sale anymore.



Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Crush body mist (bought myself, available from Space NK, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic for £18) - This smells exactly the same as the gorgeous body cream - like caramel and pistachio. I love the smell of this but didn't really reach for it as I always wear perfume instead.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No.



Radical Skincare Express Delivery Enzyme Peel (PR, available from Feel Unique, Look Fantastic for £35) - This is a gorgeous pink gel / jelly that you massage into skin for a few minutes. It leave skin feeling super soft afterwards. It's a very gentle exfoliant. 
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No.



Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding (PR available HERE for £33.99) - This is out of date now so I'm throwing away the bit I've got left. It's a nice clay mask but I think it's pretty expensive for what it is.
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No.



Image Skincare I Mask (PR, available HERE for £55) - This is a lovely mask. It smells of sweet oranges. It perks skin up brilliantly, leaving it looking fresh and refined.
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No.



Jan Marini C-Esta Face Serum (PR, available HERE as part of the 5 Step Skincare Management System set for £131.99) - Unfortunately I didn't get on with this serum. It's so strongly perfumed, it gave me a migraine! I can be sensitive to scents though so might just be me. The serum itself was milky and absorbed quickly, though it did feel a bit gritty. This disappeared when it was rubbed in. 
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? If you're not sensitive to fragrance, it's worth a try!
Will I repurchase? No.



Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion (bought myself, available from Space NK & Cult Beauty for £17) - This is a lovely lotion - it's fairly thick and hydrates skin well. It smells of marzipan which I love, although the scent doesn't linger. 
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No because I no longer support the brand. 



Fresh Sugar Lip Wonder Drops (bought myself, available from Space NK & Cult Beauty for £21.50) - This is such a unique product as it actually uses acid exfoliation rather than a physical scrub. This tube lasted me ages as you only need a small amount. It leave lips super soft and smooth.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes at some point.


Beauty Pie Japanfusion Cleanser (bought myself, available from Beauty Pie for £6.98 for members) - If you've not heard of Beauty Pie before - have a read of my blog post HERE. That explains all about membership details / costs etc. This is the cleanser that Caroline Hirons' recommended that was sold out for months! It's an absolutely gorgeous cleanser that can be used as either a first or second cleanse. It's a pretty unique texture. It's a thick creamy gel that melts as you apply it. It then turns milky and rinses clean easily. Now normally I don't like cleansers that are scent free like this is (I like the full spa sensory experience) but I make an exception for this as it's such a beautiful texture. It's that good.
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Already have. I've gone through numerous tubes now.



Mitchum Anti-Perspirant (bought myself, available HERE for £3.20) - This is my go-to deodorant. It does the job and smells nice without being overpowering.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes.



Dermatica Prescription serum (PR, available HERE from £19.99 a month) - If you've not heard of Dermatica before, they're an online dermatology subscription service. You fill out an extensive form with all you skin concerns, this then gets reviewed by a dermatologist who then prescribes you a serum which gets sent through the post to you every month. They cover a wide range of skin complaints like acne and melasma as well as anti-aging concerns. Basically it's giving you access to a dermatologist without having to pay a fortune which you would if you went private in the UK or without a lengthy wait with the NHS. I'm going to write a comprehensive review after 3 months but so far I've been impressed! My prescription is 0.025% Tretinoin (prescription strength Retinol / Vitamin A), 4% Azelaic Acid and 4% Niacinamide. This covers both acne and anti-aging concerns. The serum itself is lightweight and easily absorbed. I started using it every other day and have now upped it to 2 days on, 1 day off. I've not had any issues with peeling or any major sensitivity. I've still been getting some spots but my closed comedones appear to be decreasing. So far I wouldn't say I've had any better results than what I get from over the counter Retinol but obviously it's still early days yet. 
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? I'm going to be getting 3 months in total via PR. I'll decide after that whether I'll continue my subscription or not.



Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Florale (bought myself, available from Cult Beauty, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic for £29.50 and All Beauty for £19.95) - Dare I say it but I actually prefer this version to the original! And that's saying something as I love that. This is a beautiful body oil with a gorgeous floral scent. I apply it straight from the shower whilst my skin is still damp to lock the moisture in. The scent lingers brilliantly and it leaves skin super soft.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Definitely at some point!



Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel (PR, available from Dermalogica, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, All Beauty for £79 and Skin City for £77) - These are single use Lactic acid and enzyme peels. It leaves skin super soft and smooth. You get plenty of product - enough for two uses really. You can put the twist off part of the lid back into the hole to use it over two days.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Not at the moment, I've still got a couple more left to use.



Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream (PR, available from Dermalogica, Feel Unique, All Beauty for £39, Look Fantastic for £37 and Skin City for £35) - This is nice enough. It's soothing and hydrating. I'm not keen on the scent of it though, it smells fusty to me.
Marks out of 10: 5/10
Do I recommend it? Yes my issue with it is purely personal.
Will I repurchase? No.



Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque (PR, available from DermalogicaFeel Unique, Look Fantastic, All Beauty for £49, Skin City for £48) - Wow did this impress me! It's a thick, rich cream that contains a whole host of amazing ingredients like Vitamins A, C & E & Pro-Vitamin B5. Plus loads of other nourishing and soothing ingredients. It left me skin looking and feeling amazing! It felt soft and smooth and looked brighter. It reminds me of Dr. Levy's mask but not as expensive.
Marks out of 10: 10/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I purchase it? Yes definitely!



Dermalogica Microfoliant (PR, available from Dermalogica, Feel Unique, All Beauty for £55, Look Fantastic for £51, Skin City for £49.50) - This is the perfect product if you like a mix of chemical and physical exfoliation. It's a powder that you mix with a bit water. It turns into a creamy, lightly gritty foam. It leaves skin soft and pores clear. It's fairly strong. 
Marks out of 10: 7/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? No, I prefer exfoliating serums. 



Special Cleansing Gel (PR, available from Dermalogica, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, All Beauty for £35, Skin City for £32) - This is a no-frills gel cleanser with a light herbal scent. It does the trick without stripping skin and leaving it dry.
Marks out of 10: 6/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? I'm still in the middle of using a full sized bottle of this.



Dermalogica Precleanse (PR, available from Dermalogica, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, All Beauty for £39, Skin City for £36) - This is an absolutely gorgeous oil cleanser that does an amazing job of breaking down makeup and SPF. It smells lovely too.
Marks out of 10: 8/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I purchase it? I've got a bottle in my stash to use. 



Beauty Pie Soul Providers body scrub (bought myself, available HERE for Beauty Pie members) - I'm passing this on as I didn't get on with it. The scrub was too harsh and the scent was too citrusy for my liking. I'm funny with citrus scents - most remind me of toilet cleaner! 
Marks out of 10: 3/10
Do I recommend it? It you like a scrubby scrub and citrus fragrance, yes. 
Will I repurchase? No.



Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fibre Gel (bought myself, available from Space NK, Cult Beauty for £27 or Skin City for £25) - This is a brilliant brow gel apart from one big problem - the brush is huge! The brow gel itself is great - it's pigmented and it has a firm hold without being too crispy. But it's so hard to apply because of the size of the brush. You can't be precise with it at all. 
Marks out of 10: 4/10
Do I recommend it? If you don't mind a large brush, yes.
Will I repurchase it? No.



Beauty Pie Fresh Glow Breathable Setting Spray (bought myself, available HERE for £6.23 for Beauty Pie members) - This is a brilliant setting spray. It's a really fine mist so it doesn't disturb you makeup. It helps blur and set your makeup whilst hydrating your skin. The only downside is that it's a small bottle but to be fair, this has lasted me ages and for the price, I can't grumble!
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Do I recommend it? Yes
Will I repurchase? Yes I already have. 


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

Cult Beauty Ltd.
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