empties, empties, everywhere

The THINKING I have to do to come up with new titles for empties posts! It’s sick.

Little drinking game for this post: Take a shot every time I describe a product as “hydrating” or “moisturising” and try not to pass out. If anyone has any other suggestions for words I can use in their stead, I’m all ears. Wettening? Dampening? Humidifying? I just can’t see a way out. Anyway… empties.

Skingredients PreProbiotic Cleanse Hydrating Cleanser

This is a lovely cleanser! Creamy, not at all drying, leaves skin very soft, nice to use. I can’t say much more than that, other than I would repurchase (probably the highest compliment one can give)! If you have dry skin, this would probably be a great all-round cleanser for you — I have combination skin and mostly use it in the morning when I don’t need to really deep-clean my face.

Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Body & Hand Wash

I used this as a body wash because there was no way in hell I was wasting this luxury on my damn hands. I love the Poppy & Barley perfume so obviously, I was going to enjoy this, which was a very kind gift from my sister. I am not in the habit of splashing out on body wash. And in a cost of living crisis, I am not about to start. 

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream

I don’t often fall in love with a moisturiser. So many of them are just… meh. However, I loved this one. The gel texture is beautiful, the smell is divine, and it felt so good on my face. I like Fresh as a skincare brand — the Soy Face Cleanser is lovely, along with the Sugar Lip Tints. It’s not inexpensive but if you can nab it on sale, it’s worth it. 

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser

This has a similar vibe to the Skingredients PrePro — a hydrating, creamy cleanser that’s nice and gentle. It smells lovely (not a strong fragrance, but a light, sweet scent) and leaves skin feeling soft and moisturised, but all in all, it’s not hugely different from the Skingredients and that one is €14 cheaper. Also, I ran through it in a few weeks, which to me is annoying for a daily-use product at that price. I just don’t believe in spending huge money on cleansers! Not when CeraVe exists, sorry.

Bareminerals Oil Obsessed Total Cleansing Oil

I find cleansing oils to be so effective at getting every scrap of makeup off, and this did the job while it lasted. However, oils are not the most travel-friendly and this one started leaking everywhere towards the end of its life, so I think I’m going to move back to more balmy textures for the foreseeable. 

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra 8 Spray

I love a SPRITZ. Don’t you love a good SPRITZ? This is such a lovely one, too — hydrating and soothing, with a bit of heft to it. Not just glorified water like some of those other spritzy gals, ya know? I like to use it just before applying my serum and moisturiser to really lock in that moisture for the night. I will repurchase this ASAP because the one I’m using currently (Sunday Riley’s Pink Drink) just isn’t cutting it. 

By Kilian White Tea Hand Cream

Such a luxurious hand cream. The scent is DIVINE and it makes my hands feel soft and gorgeous, though admittedly I am not particularly dry of paw. Properly fancy hand cream is such a nice gift, I think. In case you were wondering what to get me. 

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream

This is way too thiiiicccckkk for an undereye product, in my opinion. Like, I should not have to drag my finger around to spread an eye cream. It should move at the barest touch of my hand. I’ve moved on to the No7 Protect and Perfect Eye Cream and it’s much more pleasant to use. 

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF

I’ve spoken about this at length in previous posts, but to recap: Great Vitamin C serum! Obsessed with it! Seriously expensive! I’ve gone back to the Pestle & Mortar one, which I also rate highly and which is slightly less damaging to the old bank account. Only slightly, however. 

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This is a nice hyaluronic acid serum, and I would consider buying it again except for the fact that I hate the scent. I don’t recall LRP products in general having much fragrance, but for some reason they’ve loaded this one with perfume? I just don’t need my hyaluronic acid serum to smell like a hotel body wash, personally. The Vichy Mineral 89 is cheaper and fragrance-free, so I’ll probably go back to that.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir

Having to type that name annoyed me because it just exemplifies why I am so unimpressed by the Tilbury skincare efforts. Like, crystals? What are you ON about? The Magic Cream is a genuinely nice product (in my experience anyway, it does make the skin look great) but the rest… I don’t know. This is one of those “does it all” serums in that it claims to be hydrating, firming, anti-ageing, pore-reducing, the whole lot — but I think in trying to do everything, it does nothing. It contains Vitamin C, niacinamide, and polyglutamic acid (a cousin of hyaluronic) but you’re better off getting a specific serum. Yes, I’m a hater! I don’t care.

Glossier Boy Brow and Brow Flick

I have discussed both of these items many times before — they are my little dream team for an everyday easy brow. I replace them whenever there’s a sale and will probably continue to do so… though I am tempted by the Refy stuff. Who has tried their brow products? Should I defect?

By Terry Mascara Terrybly

This mascara came in a fun Cult Beauty gift box I bought last year. The name is bad, right? Terrybly? It was not terryble, thankfully, though I probably won’t repurchase because I’ve never been tied down to a single mascara in my life (other than the Glossier Lash Slick, which plays a very specific role in my arsenal). This provided plenty of drama and volume, which is what I want when it comes to lashes. I’ve moved on to MAC Stack because influencer marketing works on me — and guess what, it’s actually pretty good. I think I will wait to give my official verdict until it has dried up a tiny bit, as everyone knows that’s when a mascara really starts to get going. Stay tuned.

Thank you for reading Vanity Project! I have COVID again (I know) and it’s not great. Too much gallivanting! I’ll see you soon for the next one.