Empties & Replacements #1 Face, body, hair, and more

Seeing peoples’ empty products as well as replacements, on Instagram as well as YouTube. Finishing up a beauty or skincare product obviously means you liked it a lot, right? Otherwise, it would easily be given to a friend. Just because something doesn’t work for one person, doesn’t mean it’s no good. There are products I don’t love from brands I usually enjoy a lot. I initially posted these on Instagram but wanted to have them all together in case you were interested. Feel free to have a look on my feed if you don’t already! Drop me a message if you have questions about any of these or other products.

Skincare
•CLEANSERS•
@emmahardieskincare Moringa Cleansing Balm is my number one cleanser for removing makeup, smells like a spa. Replaced with a new tub (probs my fifth one).
@sanoflore Aciana Botanica cleanser good as a second cleanse. Lightweight gel texture, slightly foaming, chamomile scent. Replaced with the @drsambunting which I prefer as it doesn’t foam and there’s no scent. 
@oskiaskincare Citylife cleanser is perfect as a second cleanse. Very light gel, protects against pollution. Would repurchase but have too many cleansers!
@biodermauk the original and best micellar water for a reason. I mostly use this to clean up details when doing makeup, this was my travel bottle, got a big with a pump.
•ACID•
@biologique_recherche_usa P50 the absolute best chemical exfoliator that contains both AHAs and BHAs and the best to keep spots at bay. Applied at night (every second) after cleansing. Need to repurchase but 💸
@caneandaustin treatment pads aren’t bad but wouldn’t repurchase. I liked them for traveling. They contain a 10% AHA (glycolic), I prefer the @alphahskincare.
•TREATMENTS•
@freshbeauty rose face mask. Love this for hydration. Bought the big size. 
@officialmedik8 retinol 6TR (0.6% concentration). This is great and amazing value for money. I will buy the 10TR (1% retinol), but for now I’m using a prescription strength #retinoid. 
@sundayriley Good Genes – the old #lactic acid formulation. I used to love this, however I think you can get the same effect with much cheaper products. Lactic is good if you find glycolic acid too strong, the Ordinary do a great version.
@votarylondon blemish rescue is amazing. Contains salicylic acid (BHA – the top one for spots) together with tamanu oil. Got a new bottle [gifted]. @cosrx Acne pimple Master Patch. These aren’t bad but a bit thick so you can’t really wear them during the day. I’m currently using @get_rael patches [via @amazon] and I think I like those more.
•MISTS•
@larocheposayuki Serozinc. I’ve gone through so many of those used to bring them from France for a while. They are perfect as a post-acid mist. The zinc helps with spots. Replaced with a new bottle. 
@omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist. Award winning for a reason. Take it on planes, trains, the beach, everywhere. Sets makeup, hydrates, and smells delicious (neroli and rose). Maybe too expensive for what it is but worth it for me. Got a new bottle.
•EYE CREAM•
@katesomervilleskincare Goat Milk eye balm. Got this in the US but it’s now available here! Really nice, lightweight in a stick. Recommend but have many other eye creams going so haven’t repurchased. Good to keep in the fridge for extra de-puffing. 
@emmahardieskincare Midas Touch Eye Serum (full review here). This formula is amazing – light gel/serum hybrid amazing for the day or night. Lifts and hydrates. Got a new bottle.
•MOISTURISER•
@glossier Super Bounce serum. Hyaluronic and Vitamin B5 (niacinamide). This wasn’t bad, but wouldn’t repurchase as I think you can get this formula for less money. 
@theinkeylist Hyaluronic Acid (holds 1,000 times its weight in water. Best for hydration, it’s not acidic despite its name!). Was sent this by the PR to try out as the brand launched. It was a perfect gel, just like a hyaluronic acid should be. Would purchase, but currently using the @vichy Mineral 89 which I like too. 
@biodermauk Sebium Mat Control. This face cream was good especially for acne/oily skin. Despite my skin’s oiliness though, I like a heavier moisturiser, so haven’t repurchased. Trialling the new @alphah moisturiser [gifted] currently. 
@trueorganicofsweden Face All You Need is You [gifted]. Multi-purpose balm from a sustainable Swedish brand. Great all-rounder; lips, hands and everything in between. Would buy this for sure, currently using the Aussie fave #LucasPaPawOintment.

Makeup
I don’t go through much makeup and I don’t throw out things unless they smell weird (it’s not ideal, I know, but I’m happy @zarrine_beautyjunkie does the same and she’s a pharmacist so!)
•CONCEALERS•
@baremineralsuk BareSkin Concealer. That was a good one but not special enough for the price. Replaced with @lauramercier Flawless Fusion which I prefer so far [gifted]. 
@eucerin_uk Dermo Puryfier. Contains #salicylic acid to target spots while covering. There’s only one (!!) shade which is crazy, it was a good match for me but not everyone. Replaced with @bareminerals Blemish Remedy which is available in a variety of shades. Haven’t made up my mind regarding its coverage though. 
@narsissist Creamy Radiant Concealer (shade Custard). A cult product, lightweight, a bit drying but that usually makes for good staying power. Have gone through 2-3 more of those. I haven’t repurchased at the minute but the @collectionlove concealer is VERY similar and only £4 (they’ve now launched many new shades too!)
•BROWS•
@glossier Boy Brow (in brown). I always have a back up of these as they are so good. It’s annoying they are gone quickly though, tube is quite small. Best brow setting for sure fills out brows without looking fake or too much and the little brush is great. Replaced with a new tube. 
@benefitcosmeticsuk Brow Pencil [gifted]. Good, waxy, a few different shades (I’m 4), that are connected across the whole brow range (met the lovely @lisapotterdixon at the launch of this, on an actual boat – oh the memories!). Annoyingly the slanted tip loses its form after a while, but that’s normal. Replaced with @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Wiz.
•EYES•
@katvondbeauty eyeliner is one of the best ones. This is a mini and I have a backup. Fine tip, true black, long lasting power. The only issue I have is product dries out quicker than I’d like. 
@givenchybeauty mini Noir Couture mascara. A sample from @stylistmagazine . This was good but made lashes a bit clumpy. Good for volume, but a bit wetter than I like my mascaras to be. Replaced with @toofaced Better than Sex waterproof, which is far less clumpy and good for volume.
@glossier Lash slick. A tubing mascara that’s perfect for a day look. Really like this for a natural look, bought a new one. 
@esteelauderuk Pure Colors Ency Lash. This was so interesting! Gift from a friend who knows I love trying different things. Half the bristles are for volume, the rest are for length, so you can pick your look or use both for max effect! Recommend!
•LIPS•
@maccosmeticsuk two lipsticks one pink, one red. The Russian Red is my go-to and have bought a new one already. The pink is called Snob. A bright, matte Barbie pink that I thought years and years ago suited me – it didn’t.
•COMPLEXION•
@beccacosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector (in Opal). Becca do the best highlights hands down. This is amazing on its own, under makeup, on the high points of the face to highlight – however, went off much quicker than I would expect it to, so wouldn’t repurchase for £30. Replaced with @rodialbeauty Glow Drops, which is less like a cream, more like a serum texture and less simmering but really like them!

Body Care
Are you one of those people that come summertime moisturise your bodies like crazy but during winter you kind of forget? I certainly am, but this year I’ve made an effort and moisturise most nights. So here are the creams I’ve used up. 
@institut_esthederm Prolongateur de Bronzage. This French company creates amazing tanning related products that I enjoy using in the summer, but this cream, unfortunately, wasn’t one of them. The consistency wasn’t as thick as I’d like it to be, and for a product of this price, I want it to be great. I replaced with:
@pizbuin_uk after sun, a good consistency, hydrating and smells good. Not to mention; amazing price. Will buy a new one for this summer!
@nuxe_uk Huile Prodigieuse Or. I love this so much for the summer. Gives the most intense and gorgeous shimmer. Have already purchased a new one as I do every year. It hydrates as it’s an oil. It’s intense but I love it. I also use the non-shimmer version year-round. 
@galinee_beaute LA Culture Lait Corps, contains good bacteria for your skin. It’s a gentle milk that nourishes and I enjoyed using. Would repurchase. [this was a gifted product]
@crabtreeuk Rosewater body lotion. I loved the scent of this but the consistency was a bit too sticky for my liking as it took too long to sink in. It was hydrating though!
@soaperduper Body wash in fruity green tuberose. Loved using this, and it smelled amazing. It’s a strong smell though so perhaps not ideal for sensitive skin. Would repurchase but, thanks to the @glossier Body Hero I’ve fallen in love with shower oils. I find them especially nice and hydrating during winter when skin is always drier. Would repurchase Body Hero, but I wish it came in a bigger bottle and/or came in refills. Since finishing this I’ve been filling this useful pump bottle with the @loccitane_uk_ire Almond Shower Oil that’s available in refills. Also L’Occitane will give you a 10% discount for every empty product taken into their stores to be recycled, as part of their environmentally conscious mission!

Hair/Home
Two hair things I went through recently both by @sassoonsalonofficial the Restore Treatment which was great – currently using the @gisou hairmask, and the Heat Shape, heat protectant spray. Tbh I don’t really know how to decide if a heat protectant is good, this one smelled good, didn’t make hair crispy, replaced by an Aloe Vera one by @christopherobinparis.
@thisworks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray I can never be without this, have a mini one for travelling too and replaced by the supersized bottle. Smells of lavender to help you sleep and stay asleep. 
@jomalonelondon Lime Basil & Mandarin room spray. The classic Jo Malone scent, great for all around the house! Haven’t resolved it but would repurchase.
@diptyque candles Figuer and Ambre. Two of my fave #Diptyque scents although to be honest, I love most of them. The #amber scent is warm and musky and great for colder days and fig is great all year round. Also, I always reuse the empty pots for makeup brush holders and many other things round the house. Haven’t replaced them yet but always a fave.

Do you spot any favourites? Please share with me!