Let’s start with the cleansing balm, Crabtree & Evelyn Luminous Rose Cleansing Balm* (£17.50, 100ml) would very much recommend this if you like rose-scented skincare products. Great value, lasts for ages, cleanses well and doesn’t feel stripping.
I’ve done an overview of the Nudestix Skin range, which you can see here and their Gentle Hydra Gel Face Cleanser* (£16, 70ml) was certainly my favourit product from the range. It was lightweight and soothing and a very unique gel-micellar water mix. Though I liked this a lot, you can get gel cleansers for a lot cheaper but I’d generally would recommend it.
On to serums, I used both of these at night and they are both great for different reasons. You don’t have to use two hydrating serums, but I like to be extra okay?! Medik8 Hydra8 B5 Intense* (£55, 30ml) though it’s quite pricey for a hydrating serum, this packs a punch. I found it super good when combined with the retinal cream I was using at the time. Would recommend
Indeed Labs Hydration Booster* (£16.99, 30ml) a hydrating milky serum and great price right! It has 2% niacinamide, so balances and hydrates at the same time. Would recommend
Next up, two toners: Hado Labo Koi-Gokujyun Lotion (£13.50, 170ml) for oily skin is great if you’re oily, but after I started using this, I went on Roaccutane/Accutane (see here) so couldn’t finish the bottle. So I wouldn’t repurchase, but if you’re oily-skinned it would be a good option. I now prefer this Hada Labo Lotion. Wouldn’t repurchase
May Lindstrom Jasmine Garden Mist ($70) I believe this has been discontinued as I can only find it on the brand’s US website. Smelled so so lovely, exactly like a jasmine garden! But it’s super pricey for a face mist, so – Woudn’t recommend
Finally two thick and moisturising face creams, both of which were lovely, but I wouldn’t repurchase either. Weleda Almond Soothing Face Cream* (£18.75, 30ml) this worked well, great as the last step of my routine but frankly the scent wasn’t good. It smells like marzipan and that’s something I’m NOT a fan of. Urban Veda Radiance Replenishing Night Cream* (£19.99, 50ml) this was nice and felt hydrating, but I didn’t love the texture after using the whole pot of this cream. I also didn’t notice any brightening from this, even though it says it brightens.
Bondi Sands Face SPF50+* (£7, 75ml) no fragrance, no white cast, great price!! Had some eye sting but other than that loved it. See full review below. Would recommend
Votary Pillow Spray* (£35, 100ml) this is by far the most luxurious sleep spray I’ve used, it lasted absolute ages, smells amazing – quite strong – mix of lavender and chamomile. I have more affordable sleep spray faves (like the This Works), but depends on what you like! Would recommend
Weleda Skin Food (£13.50, 75ml) used as a hand cream, love it, spoken it’s praises loads in the past. See a love poem I wrote about it below. {Use code LFTFFANI for 20% – affiliate code}. Would recommend
Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand Cream* (£9, 25ml) worked well, a good mini size for your bag. Comes in a bigger size too. Would recommend
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Pads* (£58 for 8) I’ve reviewed these before – see here – and depending on your budget, I Would recommend
Nécessaire The Body Lotion ($25 plus $5 for UK shipping, or the equivalent of £22) this was great but it reminded me a lot of the CeraVe cream that I love, so even though it worked REALLY well, and the packaging is awesome, I wouldn’t recommend. However, I actually purchased it again, as I really wanted a top-up of the body wash and scrub, which are cheaper in the set that contains this lotion too.
Peacci Cuticle Oil* (£10) this is SO good! And I love the scent, it smells like peach. Love it comes in a nail polish bottle for ease of use. Would recommend
Sanctuary Spa Shower Oil* (£7, 250ml) I love a shower oil but hated the scent of this to be honest!! I found it too strong and sweet to use in the shower, but it was great as a bath soap for a bubbly bath! Wouldn’t repurchase
Hairstory New Wash* (£44, 227ml) this is a hair cleanser -rather than shampoo- according to the company, it’s a creamy product, cleanses the scalp super well and leaves my hair so soft. It’s sulphate-free and very mild for hair and scalp. They also do refill pouches to reduce plastic and offer discounts on kits etc. Would recommend
I loved this, especially when combined with the Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Hair Mask* (£32.90, 212ml) which was thick, smelled amazing and left my hair super soft. The result is similar to the Gisou mask, but it’s cheaper, so it’s an obvious choice. Would recommend
There’s loads here as I had a little clear-out of my foundation collection but I’ll be brief.
Givenchy Matissime Velvet* (£36.50, 30ml) -expired- beautiful finish but too matte for my liking. Wouldn’t repurchase
NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint (£31, 50ml) -expired- as above, a little too matte, also I have a feeling it broke me out so hadn’t used in a couple of years and it CLEARLY had to be chucked in the bin. Sorry Nars. Wouldn’t repurchase
On the other hand, the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (£37, 30ml) was lovely! Loved the medium coverage and the dewy finish. It did expire as I was clearly using many foundations at the time, but oh so nice. Would repurchase
Chanel Les Beiges Teint Belle Mine Naturelle (£43, 30ml) it seems this has been reformulated since I originally bought it, I would imagine it’s still as amazing and luminous as the version I’d tried. Medium to full coverage and dewy finish. Would repurchase
IT Cosmetics CC+ Original (£32.50, 32ml) This is love!! This was the product that made me enjoy more natural looking bases. This is actually empty, which says a lot about me since I find it hard to finish bases!! I loved this, but love the Illuminate version even more, so wouldn’t repurchase, but would recommend
Bronzer!! I never finish such products especially when they are so big like this one by Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light (£49). Absolutely loved how this baked bronzer looked on my face and the shimmer it had. Hourglass have a lot of work to do when it comes to inclusivity though, as they still only have 4 bronzer shades and this is the darkest (!!!) so wouldn’t repurchase
I finished 3 mascaras and I threw one out. I’ll start with that one, since I didn’t like it!! It’s the K-beauty fave, Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Mascara (£10.88 for 2) amazing price, great brush, curling and overall great but one little details. It picked up the waterproof version without realising when I was in Singapore (pre covid obvs), and it’s impossible to get off. So I had to let it go! Wouldn’t recommend
The NARS Climax Mascara (£22) pleasantly surprised me!! I really like the finish and how it separated my lashes. One coat was enough for me. It was the mascara of choice most days. Would recommend
Glossier Lash Slick (£14) is a tubing mascara, which I know is not for everyone but I really liked it during the daytime, for a more natural look. If I had loads of eye makeup on, this wouldn’t give me enough of a oomph but, for a minimal look it was perfect. Would recommend
Cosmetics à La Carte Intense Volume Mascara* (£29) was great!! Intense volume as the name suggests. A friend who hasn’t found a mascara to volume her lashes, was amazed after trying this one out! Would recommend
Final product in this suuuuper long empties post! The blue NYX eyeliner (£9) which I really liked, the perfect cobalt blue colour and lasted quite long actually. It seems like they don’t do the exact same formula anymore so I’ve linked the one that’s available now. Would recommend
Total cost of FEBRUARY EMPTIES: £760
