So empties posts were a huge craze in blogging way back when, but they seem to have been gathering dust for a while.
After seeing them resurface on a couple of other blogs though, I decided why the hell not? Why not go back to my roots and see what I've been using up lately?
For me, empties really are like buses…nothing… nothing...nothing…boom! Absolutely everything needs replacing all at once.
So, do I love and what can I leave?
Yes To… Cotton Comforting Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Lies, all lies. These little pads are pre-soaked with eye makeup remover and they state on the packaging that they're specifically for ultra-sensitive, allergy prone skin.
My skin isn't what I'd call sensitive anyway, but these stung like the fiery gates of hell and sent me, eyes streaming, temporarily blind and staggering around the bathroom like Pete Doherty coming out of a gig.
Very much not impressed with these! I did finish them up because I hate waste, but it's safe to say these will not be making a repeat appearance on my bathroom shelves.
Yes To… Blueberries Dry Skin Ultra Hydrating Body Wash
Slightly more successful than the eye makeup remover pads from Satan, luckily this body wash didn't sting and it had a pleasant, almost citrus scent that didn't seem much to do with blueberries.
It foamed up well and left my skin feeling comfortable, although to be honest unless you're showering with Fairy Liquid most shower gels will do. It didn't feel like there were extra moisturising properties to this.
The best thing about this was the huge 500ml size, because I go through a lot of shower gel. I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it again, but if it fell into my basket I wouldn't say no either.
City Beauty Undereye Recovery Cream
Despite working in marketing, and therefore knowing that there is almost no depths a marketer won't go to in order to shift product, I still get enormously suckered in by extravagant claims, and never more so than when it comes to my disaster zone of an under eye area, which is saggy, baggy, shadowed and tired out, thanks to genetics and two small children.
When this eye cream began to stalk me across social media (damn you, programmatic advertising), with claims of it's super powerful lifting, lightening and tightening effect, I bit hard.
With various faux-science complexes like 'Hyalusphere' and 'Beautifeye', this promised the answers to all my prayers. After getting duped by the website into adding two tubes into my basket and then getting hit with an extortionate customs charge (£20!!), I finally had the product in my eager little hands.
Predictably, it has failed to transform my tired eyes, although it may have helped a bit - but no more than anything I could pick up at my local Boots.
And I still have another tube of the damn stuff to use up. Cod science: 1 Tired Mama: 0
Phillip Kinglsey Elasticizer Pomegranate & Cassis
At the other end of the scale, there are some products which are just classics and that you know will always be in your life. And so it is with me and this magic tube of wonder.
Since having the kids, and thanks to my addiction to balayage and hot styling tools (neither of which are going anywhere), my hair is the driest and snaps off so easily.
Elasticizer is the only product I've found that has a truly transformative effect on that. It works miracles, but it's quite expensive, so I shed a little tear any time a tube goes to die.
The search for a more cost effective alternative goes on, but this is the real deal for turning straw hair into silky locks, so I already know I'll be repurchasing - it's an essential!
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5
There was a time when purse-friendly skin expert brand The Ordinary was top of my hot list and I switched most of my skincare routine over to their products, building a custom routine that I loved.
Since then, however, I've fallen under Beauty Pie's spell. As they release more and more great skincare products, the more loyal I become, so although this is a great moisturising serum and delivers a lot for the small price tag, I've gone over to a similar product elsewhere.
The Ordinary is still a brilliant brand though, and this may be something I reorder at some point in the future.
Nuxe Creme Prodigieuse Boost Multi-Correction Silky Cream
French pharmacy brand Nuxe is also high on my list of favourite skin care, so when they released this new 'Boost' line, I had to give it a go.
The smell of this is absolutely divine, and the texture was a light, gel feel - it was everything I expected. I also loved the pump action tube which was hygienic and convenient. If this had SPF 50, it would be magic in a tube.
As it doesn't, it's just a nice day cream, so I would buy it again but it hasn't become an essential.
Beauty Pie Super Retinol + Vitamin C Night Renewal Moisturiser
This product is an absolutel essential for me. A hard working night cream, it packs a hit of potent anti-aging retinol combined with Vitamin C, which fights free radical skin damage from pollution and gives you a glow back.
It's a night time must have although it isn't intensively moisturising, despite the Shea Butter in the formula. I tend to layer an oil over the top if I feel my skin needs it.
However, this is a wonder product that's on constant re-order for me.
Original Source Hydrating Water Infusions Grapefruit & Mint Shower Gel
Well, I did say that I use a lot of a shower gel! That's where an addiction to hot spin classes will get you..
This light and refreshing gel smelt heavenly - clean and fresh. It left my skin feeling healthy and clean. It uses all natural fragrance and a vitamin and antioxidant blend to lightly cleanse.
I really liked this and would definitely pick it up again if I see it!
MUA Pro/Base Banana Blur Primer
If a primer is purse-friendly, lightweight, moisturising, kills shine and leaves a smooth, velvety base for makeup, could there be anything which could possibly make it better?
How about if it smelt of banana milkshake, I hear you cry? And it was cruelty free?
That is the deal with this find - it's a really nice product to use, feels great on your skin, and I even like the oil paint style tube.
At only £4.00, it's a great bargain find. I have lots of other primers waiting to be used up, but I would definitely buy this again.
Beauty Pie Japanfusion Step M3: Supreme Cream
I bought and reviewed the entire Japanfusion range when it first launched at Beauty Pie and I was really impressed with it.
This cream left my skin plumped up and dewy, and although it doesn't feel smothering, it is just a touch too heavy for me to use as a day cream, so I used this only at night.
With polyphenols, antioxidants and high-tech micromolecular yeast extracts this really delivered on it's promise of deep moisture and luminous skin.
I haven't immediately repurchased this, but I would consider it in the future.
Beauty Pie Superdrops Matrixyl Morphomics Flash Face Lift
As soon as I read about this, I was clicking add to basket! An anti-aging dream team of smoothing, firming and remodelling skin goodies delivered in a light serum, this is a dream to apply and promises visible results with six weeks of continuous use.
Using plant stem cells, peptides and powerful moisturisers, although it didn't leave me looking like Gigi Hadid I was pretty impressed.
Sadly, as soon as I used the last drop it went out of stock for months on the Beauty Pie website - they can be quite prone to stock issues, which is very annoying.
Now it's back in and I have some back in my possession, so I'm much happier!
Lacura Paradise Power Cream Body Cream
A while ago, I tried out the cult body cream Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and immediately fell in love with the texture and the scent.
It just made me happy, and that's someone that body creams don't usually do.
It's been on my ever-present beauty wishlist ever since then, but it's quite expensive and body cream is one of those things I can never convince myself to pay out lots for, whereas show me a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick or a Nars eye palette and I'll happily pay top whack.
I just feel like body cream gets used up too quickly for me to want to spend a lot on it. So when I saw that Aldi had launched a 'dupe' for it, I had to give it a go. It smelt similar, but not quite as spectacular.
It did a good job of moisturising deeply without being too heavy as well. I liked this, but I didn't love it to be honest.
But even if I loved this, annoyingly enough it was a limited edition, so I wouldn't be able to buy it again. Guess I'll just have to save up for it's famous inspiration!
Dove Dermaspa Summer Revived Body Lotion
On the subject of body lotions, this one is a huge favourite of mine, and I must be on double figures with repurchasing - I have to have this!
I'm not great with fake tan most of the time - I haven't got the patience or the time to baste myself like a Christmas goose, plus I have a mortal horror of the radioactive orange streaky look, so gradual tanning body lotions are much more in comfort zone.
And this is the very best I've tried, because not only does it deliver a smooth, lightly sun-kissed glow but it also works really well as a moisturiser and leaves my skin feeling really hydrated.
It's just the thing for when you don't want to look really bronzed, but you just want to stave off that glow-in-the-dark type of pale your legs get in the depths of winter.
It's a staple product for me, and it's earned its status as something I buy in twos so that I always have a backup in the cupboard!
Beauty Pie Japanfusion Step M2: Deep Treatment Serum
My final empty for the moment is another product from the Japanfusion line, this lovely deep treatment serum.
Loaded with grape and citrus antioxidants, this felt super soothing and hydrating - so much so that I didn't feel I needed a separate cream on top.
I'm a Beauty Pie evangelist so I'm sure I will purchase this again - the only thing is that they have so many brilliant serums to try it may take me a while to work my way round to it again!
So that's my not-so-little epic empties post - have you tried anything above? Will you love it or leave it!? Let me know!
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