April 2024 Empties

Continuing on with my "empties" posts from 2024 - I feel April was a pretty good month for me working through products, so there are quite a lot for me to write about, and to say whether I'd buy them again or not.

I started keeping a spreadsheet at the beginning of last year to track all the products I had to use, and how many I had remaining at the end of each month.  Throughout April, I managed to reduce the overall amount of my backlog by 25, which I think is good considering I had replaced a few of my staple items too, as well as buying a few new setting powders to try.

So, here are the products I finished in April, and my opinions on them.

Haircare

• L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Moisture Boosting Shampoo - I do like using L'Oréal shampoos, and this one made my hair feel quite nice and soft.  It had a pleasant scent too.  I don't really stick to any particular shampoo, though, but if I saw this on special offer I would buy it again.

• Percy & Reed Turn Up the Volume Volumising Dry Shampoo - I don't tend to like volumising sprays, as I don't like the texture they leave in your hair, but this one wasn't as bad for that.  It worked well as a dry shampoo on 2nd day hair, and didn't show white marks.  I do prefer the Batiste dry shampoos, though, so I wouldn't purchase this one again.

• Batiste Dark Hair Colour Dry Shampoo - Despite the Batiste dry shampoos being my favourite, I think the formula had changed with the brunette spray, as it didn't seem to work as well as it used to.  This spray felt wetter when I used it, so it didn't soak up oil as well as the original version did.  I would keep buying the non-coloured sprays, but I wouldn't repurchase the brunette/dark hair version unless it was in the original packaging style (and, hopefully, original formula).

• Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray - I wrote about this in my January empties, and my feelings on it didn't change this time.  It did leave my hair feeling nice and soft, and looking a bit shinier than usual, but I wouldn't say it created a barrier against moisture.  This wouldn't be a re-purchase.

• Grow Gorgeous Defence Anti-Pollution Leave-In Spray - This was fine, it had a lovely scent, but I didn't really see any benefits from using it.  I wouldn't buy it again.

• We Are Paradox Repair Game Changer Hair Mask - This mask smelt so nice, and made my hair feel really smooth when I used it, so it would definitely be a product I'd look to buy again.  It's still showing on the LookFantastic website, but marked as 'coming soon', so, hopefully, it hasn't been fully discontinued.

• Bumble and Bumble Don't Blow It Fine (H)Air Styler - I don't really ever air dry my hair, so I used this as I would have any other blowdry cream, and my hair felt ok after it.  It didn't leave my hair feeling like there was product in, which was nice, but it didn't make enough difference for me to consider buying a full-size version.

Bath and Body Products

• Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash - One thing I do really like about Dove skincare products is the scent - it's just so fresh and clean smelling.  This body wash was fine, it did the job and left my skin smelling nice, but it wouldn't be one I would go out of my way to purchase.

• Dove Gentle Scrub Body Wash - Similar to the body wash, this smelt nice and was a very gentle exfoliating wash.  I prefer a little bit of a coarser body scrub if I'm going to use one, though, so I wouldn't repurchase this.

• Feather & Down Sweet Dreams Bath Essence - This smelt divine, similar to the pillow spray which I used and enjoyed last year.  It produced enough bubbles without irritating my skin, and made for a very relaxing bath.  I would definitely repurchase this!

• Soul Energy 'Black Raspberry Vanilla' Bath Bomb Dust - Soul Energy is a small UK business that sells bath bombs, bath dust, whipped soaps, etc.  I've used quite a few of their bath bombs, and they gave off amazing colours as they fizzed away, but if you have sensitive skin they might be a bit irritating.  The bath dust/powder was nice to use and it had a lovely fruity scent.  I'd consider buying more when I've worked through my stockpile of bath bombs.

• Gatineau Paris Defi Lift 3D Firming Neck and Décolleté Gel - I don't really use moisturisers or creams on my upper body much, as my skin there is a bit more sensitive to certain ingredients and fragrances.  I did use this up, and it did irritate me a little at times.  I didn't see any improvements in my skin from using it either, so I wouldn't repurchase.

• Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter - I adore the original Soap & Glory scent, so I really enjoyed using this product.  The body butter was very thick, but soaked in really well without making my skin feel too sticky.  I'll be buying more of it, although I do already have a few minis in different fragrances from Soap & Glory's recent advent calendar.

• Beauty Formulas Organic Aloe Vera Lotion - I really enjoy using creams and gels with aloe vera in, as I think they soothe and moisturise my skin really well.  I wrote about this product in January's empties also, and although I like using the lotion, I would buy the gel version over it, as I think it feels nicer on my skin.

Cleansers and Skincare

• Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - I finished one of these in February, and I'll probably mention them a few more times in the future as I had quite a few in my stockpile.  I liked using this cleanser on days when I'd worn a bit more makeup, as it worked well at cleansing the skin more deeply than some other products.  It had a nice, herbal scent and didn't irritate my skin, although I won't use it on my eyes as it can sting a bit if it gets in by accident.  I still have some more of these to use, and I also received a set of them for Christmas - but it will be a product I'd continue to buy.

• Simple Moisturising Facial Wash - This must have been quite a few years old with it being the Little Mix limited edition one!  However, it smelt fine and didn't irritate my skin, so I used it up.  I do like this face wash - it cleans quite well without drying the skin too much.  It wouldn't be my go-to, but I would repurchase it to have it as a backup.

• Dr Botanicals Cocoa & Coconut Superfood Facial Cleansing Bar - I'm not a fan of how soap can leave the skin feeling after use, but I still gave this one a go.  It smelt pretty nice (even though coconut isn't one of my favourite fragrances) and did a good job at cleansing the face.  However, I ended up using it on my body to finish it off quicker, as it made my face feel a little dry after a few uses.

• Superdrug Clearly Youthful Retexturising Glyolic Peel Off Mask - I really liked this mask - despite it being several years old, it still worked well for me.  If I left it on a bit too long, it could make my skin a bit red, but it would also make my face look and feel really smooth.  I'm quite sad they don't sell this anymore, and I've been searching around since for a similar peel-off mask, but there aren't many options.  It would definitely be a repurchase if it hadn't been discontinued.

• Korres White Pink Volumizing Serum-in-Moisturizer - This was ok.  I wasn't overly keen on the scent of it, but it worked fine as a moisturiser.  It's not something I would look to buy again.

• Feel Free Antioxidant Eye Contour Cream - This was fine as an eye cream.  I did like that it had hyaluronic acid in it, although I didn't really see any improvements to my under eyes.  It worked ok under makeup, too.  I wouldn't repurchase it.

• Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser - This was an interesting product, as it was a moisturiser that had a bit of a tint to it.  I ended up using it over my normal moisturiser, though, as I didn't feel it was quite as hydrating as I would have liked.  It created a pretty nice base for makeup, but I wouldn't buy it again.

Makeup Products and Perfume

• Eylure Dybrow Permanent Tint for Brows 'Dark Brown' - I don't tint my brows often (mainly as I forget to do it!), but when I used this one, it worked well.  It darkened some of my white eyebrow hairs and slightly tinted the skin at first.  I wouldn't say it lasted 6 weeks for me, probably around 2 at most, but that could be due to the face wash products that I use.  I'm currently working through a different brow tint, but I would buy this again when I've used that one up.

• Omorovicza Budapest Queen of Hungary Mist - I've received this product from beauty boxes a few times over the years, and it always feels like a luxury product due to the packaging.  It had one of the softest mists of any facial sprays I've tried, smelt lovely, and felt nice on my skin.  However, I wouldn't be able to justify the cost of the full size version when I have used other cheaper mists which made my skin feel similar after use.

• Barry M Feature Length Black Mascara - This mascara had such a skinny brush, but it made my lashes look really nice.  It lasted well throughout the day and washed off ok, so I would consider repurchasing it once I've worked through my backlog.

• Baylis & Harding 'Midnight Plum & Wild Blackberry' Perfume Roller - I got this in a set one Christmas along with a matching hand cream, and the fragrance was absolutely beautiful.  It was a perfect deep fruity scent for winter.  It's just a shame that this doesn't seem to be sold separately, or I would buy it in a full-size bottle.

• Dr PawPaw Plumping Lip Oil - This was more of a normal lip oil to me, it didn't seem to have much of a plumping effect.  The oil didn't last on my lips for very long either.  I wouldn't repurchase this.

• Centrum Women Multivitamin Food Supplement - I've mentioned these in a couple of blog posts now, and I've decided to use up what I have left and then stop taking them, and just start taking a smaller selection of individual vitamins to see if there is a difference.  I don't think this is a bad product - I just don't know if the multivitamins benefit me much. I do still have a few more packs to finish off, though.

Hand and Nail Care

• Molton Brown Vintage with Elderflower Fine Liquid Hand Wash - This was from the Christmas range and had glitter in it, so it looked really pretty.  The fragrance was nice, more masculine than the usual hand wash fragrances I choose - the scent lasted on my hands for a little while after washing, too.  I would gladly use this hand wash again, but it is a bit too expensive to be an immediate repurchase - if I saw it on clearance though, I'd snap it up!

• Johnson's Body Care 24 Hour Moisture Radiance Hand Cream - I didn't like this product at all.  I tried using it to moisturise my hands and had to wash it straight off as I didn't like the texture of it.  I ended up using it on my feet though, as I didn't want to waste it, and it worked ok, but I've used nicer foot creams.  A definite no to buying again.

• Margaret Dabbs Fabulous Hands Hand Lotion - This was a really nice hand cream, it felt nice applying it, and it soaked in well.  I've used the foot cream by Margaret Dabbs too, and I remember that being a lovely product.  It is quite pricey, but it's sometimes sold on QVC in bundles for lower prices, so I will keep an eye out to repurchase it.

• Naobay Natural & Organic Orange Juice Hand Cream - This didn't smell as nice as I thought it would, it was more creamy than zesty and bright.  It was quite a thick moisturiser, but I managed to use it up, mainly overnight.  I wouldn't buy it again.

• The Body Shop Satsuma Hand Cream - This is an instant repurchase for me!  It's my all-time favourite hand cream, and it's my favourite skincare scent - I've recently bought the Satsuma body mist, and it's delightful!  The hand cream smells amazing, soaks in easily and makes my hands feel lovely.  I have 4 or 5 of these in my stash, but will continue to buy them, especially when they're on offer.  I just wish it was sold in the larger sized tube.

• A Certain Becca Lacquers 'Jelly Babies' Cuticle Oil - This was a nice smelling cuticle oil, and was fine to use.  I've since bought the ingredients and have made my own cuticle oils, so I don't need to buy any for a while now.

I think there was a good mix of products that I would use again, and some I definitely wouldn't, from April.  I'm starting to see which products are my more regulars, and also realising I use a fair bit of hand cream!

Have you used any of the products I've mentioned this month? Are there any you really like, or dislike?

Review: March 2024 LookFantastic Beauty Box

I'm finally continuing on with my very delayed beauty box reviews - I can't wait to be caught up!

As a refresher, since it's been a while - for many years, I used to be subscribed to multiple different beauty boxes.  Some of them ended over the time, some I unsubscribed from for one reason or another, but the one I stayed subscribed to for the longest was the LookFantastic Beauty Box.  I liked this box as it generally had a good mix of products from some well-known brands as well as ones I'd not heard of before.  In the early months of 2024, this was the only box I was subscribed to, and I still want to post about the boxes now even though it's many months later.

The LookFantastic Beauty Box is a monthly box which costs from £13 a month (with a 12-month subscription) and usually contains 6 beauty products with a "minimum value of £50", according to the website.  Occasionally, a couple of products included in the box can vary per person as there are different variants of boxes sent out, but you don't get a choice over what you will receive.

My March 2024 LookFantastic Beauty Box was "Variant 1" and included: 

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Genius Brow Serum 2ml (£34.86 value / £61 for 3.5ml, though currently on offer for £30.50) - I've been using The Ordinary Lash and Brow serum for quite a few months now, but haven't seen much improvement in my brows.  I am very interested in seeing how this ABH one compares, especially given the price difference between the products.  The reviews for it seem generally good, I just hope there's enough product to last long enough to see any real results.

• Gatineau Paris Hydra Aura Water Cream 30ml (£19.20 value / £48 for 70ml - no longer on the LF website, but available from Sephora) - This seems like an interesting product, as it can be used as a face moisturiser, a booster on the face, or on the neck and décolleté.  I've used quite a few different Gatineau products over the years and often find them a bit too strongly fragranced, but I'll give this one a go as a moisturiser and see how it makes my skin feel.

• Nail HQ Nail Lacquer "Crimson" 10ml (Full size - no longer on the LF website, but the Nail HQ polishes have a value of £3.99 elsewhere) - Even though I own hundreds or nail polishes, I don't think I have any by this brand.  It's quite a nice shade - a deep red with a jelly-creme finish.  It has a nice sized and shaped brush, so I'm looking forward to trying it out properly and seeing how it performs on my nails.  I did test it out on a swatch stick - it seems like a nice formula and was touch dry pretty quickly, it should take 2 coats for good coverage.

• Mio Clay Away Body Cleanser 2-in-1 Wash & Mask 30ml (£2.70 value / £18 for 200ml, though currently on offer for £5) - I'm looking forward to trying this, it has a nice smell in the tube.  I'm currently using a Lush mask in a similar way that this can be used on the body, so I will try this afterwards and compare.  I like that it seems to use plant-based ingredients and should be quite gentle, too.

• First Aid Beauty Anti-Chafe stick 9.9g (£4.13 value / £20 for 48g) - I don't wear skirts often, so I wouldn't really use this on my thighs.  However, it does say it can be used on underarms, which I may try, as sometimes knitted jumpers can rub and irritate my skin there.  I'll test it out and report back on how it performs.

• Brushworks Duo Satin Scruchies (Full size - only a 4-pack of satin scrunchies is available on the LF website for £6.49) - I received some of the big silk pillow scrunchies for Christmas which I've been enjoying using, so these smaller ones will be great to use throughout the day.  I've tried using one already, and it kept my hair in a bun securely for several hours, and I loved that it didn't tug my hair like normal hair bobbles can do. I think this is my favourite product in the box this month!

The March box has a value of £68.13 when looking at the full-size versions of the products - a large amount of the value is in the eyebrow serum though, without that it would be just £23.27! So, as much of an improvement the overall value is compared with the past few months' boxes, 4 out of the 6 products in this box have a value of less than £5, which is a little disappointing.

Saying that, I do think that this box has a good range of products, and I'm looking forward to trying them all, especially the brow serum (I have one brow a bit patchier than the other!).  I'm still holding out for a colourful makeup product, though, since we haven't had one for a while now.

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? Can you recommend any others you think I should try?

March 2024 Declutter

Hi everyone!  So, I know this is about 10 months late now, but I'd kept all the products and written notes for everything already, so I'm still going to post about them - and, hopefully, I'll catch up with the rest of last year's decluttered products posts over the next couple of months.

As a refresher, since it's been a while - I went through a phase many years ago where I was receiving multiple monthly beauty boxes, as well as buying other makeup and skincare products quite regularly, so my stockpile of items built up quite quickly.  Therefore, I made a decision over the past couple of years to try and cut down on my products, either by trying to use up as much as possible, or declutter things I no longer liked, had expired, or could be passed on to someone else if I wasn't going to use them.

In March (2024) there wasn't really a focus for items that I decluttered, it was more just letting things go as I was working my way through testing some different products.

• Maelys B-Foxy Inner Thigh Firming Cream - I tried this for over a month and didn't really see any differences from using it.  The tingling sensation wasn't as strong with this as with the arm cream I'd also used from this brand, but I just felt I would rather try some different creams instead of this.
• Thisworks Perfect Legs Skin Miracle - I almost never have bare legs, so this product wasn't really for me.  I did try it on my arms/hands, but didn't like the feeling of it, and it went a little streaky when it got wet.
• Dr PawPaw Limited Edition Red Sparkle Multipurpose Soothing Balm - I did actually try using this balm for a little while despite it being glittery, but I'm honestly not a huge fan of the Dr PawPaw balms as I don't think they last on the lips very long.  I have plenty of other lip balms to work through, so I let this one go. 
• I <3 Revolution Fantasy Lip Topper "Unicorn" - I do love a bit of shimmer, just not on my lips as much anymore, and this lip gloss was a very shimmery pink.  I loved how cute the applicator looked, but this wasn't for me.
• The Beauty Crop Oui Cherie Hydrating Lip Oil - I liked that this had a colour change effect when applied and would turn a pretty pink shade.  However, the oil didn't last long on my lips, and it made them feel a bit dry after being used a while.
• Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm "Intense Care" - I'd had this for many years, so it was probably expired, as when I used it for a couple of days, my lips started getting very dry.
• Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm "Mint Fresh" - I remember this smelling really nice when I first bought it years ago, but the scent had changed and had become very unpleasant, so seemed to be expired and time to let go.

• West Barn Co. Gel Brows Brow Styling Gel - I'd had this for quite a long time, but had not used it for a while as I prefer to use coloured brow gels.  It had gone quite hard in the pot, so was definitely time to part with.
• UKLash Eyelash Serum - I'd actually been using this for several weeks, but noticed I was developing a dark line along my lashes where I'd been applying it.  I did some research online and found out it contains an ingredient (prostaglandins) which can actually cause several issues around the eye area (orbital fat loss, darkening around the eyes, eye redness, etc), so I immediately stopped using it and have been looking for a safer one to use instead.
• Ciaté Stamp and Drag Liner - This was quite old - the stamp end wasn't as bold as it originally was and the tip on the liner end wasn't as pointed, so I couldn't get a nice, sharp wing anymore. 
• Soap & Glory Supercat Liquid Black Eyeliner Pen - I did like this eyeliner and hadn't been using it for a super long time, but it had started drying up already.
• Barry M All Night Long Full Coverage Concealer "Almond" - This colour was too dark for me to use as a concealer, but worse than that, it had started smelling strongly like paint, so it had probably expired.
• Lord & Berry Conceal-It Crayon Concealer "Beige" - I tried using this, but I just didn't feel it was a very effective concealer.  It's also a bit of a pain to have to sharpen it now and then versus having an ordinary liquid concealer in a tube.

• NARS Blush "Orgasm" - I feel like this is one of the most featured blushes in beauty boxes, as I have had many of these over the years.  I have another mini one which I keep for travelling as well as a full-sized one I'd purchased, so I let this one go.
• Physicians Formula Rosé All Day Petal Glow Highlighter "Soft Petal" - This has got to be one of the prettiest products!  Unfortunately, I don't really wear pink toned highlighters, and this was on the verge of being too dark for me, so I parted with it.
• Eyeko Spotlight Highligter Pencil "Champagne" - Similar to the concealer pencil, I feel a highlighter pencil is more inconvenient to use than a normal powder product.  The colour of this was pretty though.
• Iconic London Illuminator "Original" - I tried this under makeup, as well as in place of a highlighter, but it was just a bit too dark for me.

Those were all the items I decluttered in March last year.  Each month since, I have continued to sort through products and part with some, and I will continue to share what those items were over the next few weeks and months.

Anything that can be passed onto someone else safely and hygienically will be.  The rest will be recycled, if possible.

With the increase in popularity of "project panning" online over the past couple of months, are you taking part and trying to reduce the amount of products you own and use too?