January Empties
I’ve never really been an empties kind of person - I tend to use something and replace it immediately if I love it, without really thinking about. Definitely without blogging about it. But, with January being one of those tougher months when it comes to my bank balance, I really tried to use things up, and stick to a ‘no buy’ rule. That being said, while I used all of the products mentioned here up, I may or may not have bought their replacements ahead of time…(shrugs)
Melvita Bouquet Floral Gentle Cleansing Jelly
I bought this on a trip to Lille, France back in October, and it lasted me all the way through to January! It is probably my favourite cleanser ever to use as a second cleanse in the evening, or first in the morning. Yes, since it ran out, I’ve replaced it with Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser - which I also love - but I know I’m going back to the Melvita one. Although it’s really similar to the Glossier one - even down to some of the ingredients - this one leaves my skin feeling a little more fresh. Where the Glossier formula is thicker, like a gel-cream, especially when applied to dry skin, this one just glides over and gives skin an instant boost of freshness. It really is lovely - one or two pumps is all you need to leave skin clean and ready for your fave skincare products.
Repurchase? Yes, once I’ve used up my Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser!
Apparently you can also use this to remove makeup, but for me, once makeup is on my face, I will always use an oil-based cleanser first.
Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask and Blue Marine Algae Intense Hydrating Mask
The Cucumber Gel Mask is the one to use when you’ve been messing around with your skin and are scared to do anything else to it. It’s super light, soothing and cooling. For me, it’s the perfect mask to use in conjunction with other more active masks. The Blue Marine Algae version is the one mask that I’d slather all over my face when I’m travelling, as it contains a cocktail of humectants (ingredients that attract and retain moisture). It kinda tingles a little bit at first and almost feels medicinal. I’ve slept in this one plenty of times and I always look fresh the next day.
Repurchase? No, purely because there are tons of other options out there and I don’t love these two the same way I adore his Rose Stem Cell Bio Repair Mask - now that’s a must-buy product.
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum
Love, love, love this serum! The bottle advises that you use it every other night but I was tempted, many times, to apply every night. I love using this underneath my other fave serum (below), on its own or straight after a multi-masking session. This product has one hundred percent helped me in my mission to brighter skin (you can read more about that here) and although it’s hefty at around £40 for just 29ml, I think it goes a long way.
Repurchase? Definitely. Once I’ve tried The Ordinary’s Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% as it’s a quarter of the price.
Murad Rapid Age Spot Correcting Serum
This is one of the pricier skincare items in my regime (£70) but, the first time I bought it, I got 20 percent off (can’t remember where from) and the second time, I got 15 percent off. When you love something, it’s a good idea to shop around for the best price, just to eek out that little bit of extra value for money. On average, one bottle lasts me three months (I think) so for me, £70, with daily usage, sometimes twice, isn’t that bad at all. This serum is lovely and light and, when I’m in the house, I’ll often just wear it on its own, after cleansing. It has a tiny bit of iridescence to it, and is the perfect base for foundation. Again, this was bought as part of my mission to get brighter skin and it has definitely lightened up areas where I have old acne scars and discolouration. A must-buy for anyone with pigmentation, scarring or dullness issues.
Repurchase? Hell yeah. I’m on my second bottle.
Are you interested in future empties blogs? Let me know if they’re a yay or a nay below!