the final empties of 2021
A few days late, but they're still good!
I intended to post this at some point before the stroke of midnight on December 31, but then… Did I get the booster shot, or did the booster shot get me? I spent all of New Year’s Eve in bits in the mix 2006 — those flu-like symptoms are no joke. However, I’m right as rain again, grateful to be boosted, and all ready to share my last empties of 2021.
Lancôme Advanced Genefique serum
Remember when I finished the La Mer Concentrate and admitted that it had taken me ages to figure out what the product was meant to do? This one was kind of the same. I scrutinised the packaging of this “youth-activating concentrate” to absolutely no avail. After some Googling I learned that it is… drumroll please… a hyaluronic acid serum. There are also some probiotics and Vitamin C in there, but for the most part this seems to be designed to hydrate and plump. To be fair to it, it’s a nice serum, but I’ve tried others with less frills that work just as well.
Kate Somerville Peptide K8 Power Cream
This is a solid moisturiser. It moisturises, certainly! But I wasn’t blown away and I can’t quite pinpoint why. In contrast, I’m currently using the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream and know already that I love it — the texture, the smell, how it feels on my skin. The Peptide K8 Power Cream just didn’t have the same impact. And those centre-dispensing jars, as hygienic and fun to use as they are, make it so hard to know when you’re coming to the end of the product! I hate getting left high and dry! Anyway — not a moisturiser I’m rushing to get again, but definitely not bad.
This product is such a blast from the past. I first bought Effaclar Duo years ago during my initial bout with adult acne. I hoped it would heal my deep cystic spots, but as we know now, those particular headwrecks require a bit more care and attention. I rediscovered it this year when my skin was once again at its worst, but what I noticed this time is that while my cystic acne wasn’t going away, the rest of my face looked great.
Effaclar Duo is yet another product that isn’t particularly forthcoming about its purpose, but it is in fact a light moisturiser. It contains niacinamide, salicylic acid, and other spot-fighting ingredients that can deal with smaller blemishes and control oil production. I like using it in the morning before my SPF — it provides an extra layer of moisture without making me look like a greaseball.
Ultraceuticals Ultra Brightening Foaming Cleanser
This cleanser claims to brighten dull and lacklustre skin, but to be honest I don’t know if it did. Surely my Vitamin C serum is doing the heavy lifting there? This was a grand foaming cleanser but nothing terribly special.
PS… Beauty Lip Liner in Nude (I think?!)
Look at this little nub! I could no longer turn it in the sharpener so I decided to retire it from service. This is my favourite lip liner — it’s my perfect “my lips but better” shade, smooth and creamy to apply, and works with a ton of lipsticks. I have a replacement that I sourced ages ago so I’m not sure whether Penneys still stock this or if it now has a shade name (they used to only have about four shades of liner so it was fairly clear which one was the nude). I’ll check next time I’m in because it would be a travesty to lose it.
I mentioned this in my 2021 favourites but I just had to call attention to my greatest achievement of 2021: finishing this tub. I’ve had it for longer than I care to mention but listen — no one died, my lips are soft and hydrated, and I have already made a considerable dent in my new one. I fackin love it m8.
I also mentioned this in my favourites so I won’t go into too much detail again, but it’s great, it works, and I’m now well into my second tube. Big lashes forever!
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
Ms Liz has been forgotten about as of late but Cleanse and Polish is still good! It’s reliable and gentle and smells lovely. The thing is that there are now loads of similar creamy cleansers on the market — take the Skingredients PreProbiotic Cleanse, for example, which I am using right now and loving — so C&P is no longer the front runner. I used to use foaming cleansers for every wash, but now I do them once or twice a week. Creamy cleansers are a little easier on the skin and keep everything nice and hydrated.
I can’t justify spending loads on skinny brow pencils from luxury/mid-level brands when the budget stuff works just as well. You want me to give you €20 for a sliver of brown crayon? Lads. This did the job perfectly — the formula is neither too creamy nor too stiff, and the dark brown shade was a good match for my brows. NYX Micro Brow is very similar but has a better shade range, if you’re stuck for a good, affordable brow pencil.
And a little did-not-finish: REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30
Argh, I hated this so much. It’s so thick that it’s almost impossible to rub in. It leaves a white cast. It sits horribly under makeup. I hate leaving products unfinished but I couldn’t continue to struggle with this one. I might save it for hands/arms in the summer time but it is never going near my face again.
Thanks for reading Vanity Project and a very happy New Year! This month marks one year of this newsletter… imagine. See you soon for the next instalment!
Thanks so much, love your newsletters 😍