Oh hello! It’s been a while, but here’s another Empties Edition. It isn’t to say that I don’t use up products at other times. This is when I remember to set them aside so I remember to update some thoughts about them, in particular, if I’d repurchase, because that’s a sure sign of whether a product withstands the test of time 🙂
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
Needs no introduction by now I’m sure! I used to have a bottle of this shower oil on standby for when I felt I needed a bit of luxury in the shower, and when my skin is feeling dry. I love the texture going on skin, and I love that it moisturises my skin while cleaning it at the same time, so there is no greasy after-feel. Only clean, moisturised skin.
READ THE FULL REVIEW (LINK HERE): Incidentally, I noticed I finished one up in my last Empties post too! haha!
Will I repurchase? It’s hard to say, as the price has gone up significantly in recent years since I started buying and using it. Perhaps I might, if I see it go for a good deal, but I am also a lot more careful with my spending these days and am having a bit of a lifestyle shift so as much as I love it as a product, it’s hard to justify buying it for regular use.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Hands down one of the best cleansing balm I’ve ever used, and one I am happy to keep using despite the price. When it comes to cleansing balm, I much prefer the ones that feel more thick and ‘greasy’ and more like a balm, than those that feel like a solid cleansing oil.
I personally feel that cleansing oils are too stripping for my skin, so I need the nourishing oils from good cleansing balms that nourish my skin while cleansing. The Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ticks all the right boxes, smells good, washes off easily, and does last quite a while.
READ THE FULL REVIEW (LINK HERE): Elemis products are pricey but in my experience, the core ones are pretty decent.
Will I repurchase? Yes!
Mad Hippie Triple C Night Cream
Finally scraped out the last bits of this night cream, and was a little sad that I was done with it. I quite like using Mad Hippie products, generally speaking, and this was my first time using it. A jar has lasted me quite a long time because it’s only used at night.
I am generous with my use of the cream (I don’t believe in stinting on product use) and it has been good for my skin, in a fairly basic sort of way. I like how it softens my skin and how it keeps it moisturised through the night.
What did eventually get to me was the scent which I found too sweet and too strong for my liking.
READ THE FULL REVIEW (LINK HERE): The other Mad Hippie product I like, that I think is worth trying, is their Vitamin A serum and Cleanser.
Will I repurchase? Not at this point in time primarily because of the scent.
Decorte Liposome Advanced Repair Serum
This Decorate Liposome Advanced Repair Serum is one that I wasn’t sure what to make of when I first started using it. But it turned out to be a product that you miss only after it’s gone. You can read what this serum does here.
Basically, it is a pre-serum that you use before your other serums, to boost their efficacy. It also targets skin cells to repair and protect against aging and stimulates the rebirth of new cells and longer lasting moisture.
I will confess that I have never been sold on the concept of a pre-serum. It just seemed like too much bother and palaver, but I can’t deny that I did notice that my skin looked a little more rested and better during this time that I was using this Decorate Liposome Advanced Repair Serum. Was it a coincidence? Was it just a placebo effect? Or was it actually doing something for my skin?
I honestly can’t say what it is. That said, I personally find it a little too pricey to stick to for the long term. It is nice. If you have the budget for it, I’d say go for it – it surprised my how soft my skin felt while using this serum.
READ MORE ABOUT IT: I previewed it here if you’d like to read about it in more detail.
Will I repurchase? Not at this time. The price does not justify the means for me.
Blue Lizard SPF50 sunscreen
I started using this sunscreen on both body and face, and then used it only for the body. It is quite greasy, and it does leave a white cast. So this isn’t a sunscreen I’d use daily if I were going into the office.
For me, as I’m outside a lot, it is something I use daily in generous amounts on my arms, neck and décolletage. It does help to protect my skin from burning when I’m outside, and also from sunspots.
I do find it rather drying because I use it daily, and removal is a bit of a bother because it is so water-resistant. What I do is use the remnants of whatever cleansing balm/oil I’m using that evening to run over my dry arms and neck to ensure that the sunscreen comes off. Then, I shower as normal and apply a good body moisturiser or oil thereafter.
READ THE FULL REVIEW (LINK HERE): I can’t stress how important it is to remember to wear sunscreen on our body as well, especially if you go out win the sun. I used to neglect my neck and arms, but these days, I’m a lot more diligent – but I do have the sun spots to show for it!
Will I repurchase? I might because a good, affordable body sunscreen isn’t easy to come by, and it isn’t terribly expensive all things considered. The sun and UV protection is good, and there is no scent, which is something I like.
Antipodes Ananda Antioxidant-Rich Gentle Toner (Old packaging)
This Antipodes Ananda toner comes in its old packaging, but it’s one that I wanted to use up from my stash. I generally love Antipodes products, and facial mists (I should be more diligent about my moisture sandwich because my skin has been feeling a bit drier than usual lately).
This Ananda Antioxidant-Rich Gentle Toner is a face mist that contains ingredients that are gentle to sensitive skin, yet refreshing, hydrating and calming.
To be honest, I couldn’t discern anything extra special about this one LOL! I tried to figure it out, until I reached the end of the bottle, but still couldn’t quite figure out if it was worth using. It was a nice facial mist, but that was about it for me.
Will I repurchase? No, I couldn’t tell what was special about this one.
Biologique Recherche Biokiss
I generally do not use lip balm. I have a belief that using lip balm consistently makes you dependant on it (which could be the case, or it could be just hokum 😛 ), but I am also aware that there are some people who have chronically dry lips, who need to use lip balm very often. I suppose we’re all made differently.
For me, lip balm is a little night treatment to protect my lips from getting dried out from the air-conditioning, so it usually lasts forevery and a day. I don’t like anything that has a scent, and I don’t mind tacky textures.
I found a tiny sample pot of the Biologique Recherche Biokiss lip balm in my stash and decided to have a go at it. I have to say that one tiny pot does last you a long long time if you use it only at night as I do, which might make the splurge worth it!
Biologique Recherche says that the Biokiss Regenerating Lip Balm nourishes dry lips and smooths flaking lips. It protects lips from environmental damage and soothes dry lips.
To be honest, I didn’t find this much different from most lip balms in a pot. The texture is balmy (which I like) and it is rather tacky (which I don’t mind). It did not leave a waxy layer over my lips, which is something I HATE in lip balm. In the morning, my lips feel soft and not dry.
However, my lips feel the same way when I use Lucas Papaw on them! LOL! It was a nice lip balm, and I used little bits of it to soothe dry, flaky skin on my knees and elbows too. I also don’t know the price of the product, as BR is notoriously secretive about their prices. But knowing them, it’s probably pretty expensive.
Will I repurchase? No. But I won’t say no to any samples that may come my way! 😛
What’s your most recent empty skincare product?
What I have been emptying quite quickly is shampoo – for some reason, I no longer have a stash of shampoo, and now have no idea what to buy! LOL! Recommendations are welcome.
Paris B
Evie says
Have you used Clinique cleansing balm? If you have, how do you compare it to Elemis’s balm? I am using Clinique and I’ve never used Elemis. Clinique is not expensive and it’s easy to find (airports, Sephora, etc.).
Also, are you going to Japan soon?
I’m going to Tokyo and Kyoto next month and I have a long shopping list ; )