Epic Empties!

 

Hi guys!!!

So this is officially my biggest empties blog post yet! A lot of these I've been using for longer than 5 months, which was when I did my last empties post. A few of these are repurchases as I love them so much and they've become my Holy Grails. And a few of them are brand new products that I tried for the first time last year (I will let you know when I started using them). I am definitely establishing the products that my skin loves and hates, as well as the ones I'm undecided about. When you've tried so many different products it can be difficult to know which ones are making the most noticeable difference to your skin.

I'm going to list the products by category and order of application (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen). So if you'd like to see my honest reviews of the products I've emptied in the last 5 months, please read on...

 

Rovectin Skin Essentials Conditioning Cleanser: I started using this last December as I'd heard that it was a nice gentle cleanser and wanted something that cleansed abit deeper in the mornings. It has a soapy smell which is strange as it's fragrance free and isn't meant to strip your skin. It has a nice light lather which I enjoyed however it didn't leave my skin as soft and moisturised as the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. I wouldn't repurchase this cleanser as you don't get alot for your money. I paid £12 (including postage) on Stylevana and you only get 175ml. Compared to Cetaphil which was £10 (on offer) and comes in a 473ml bottle... it's a non-brainer! (6/10, WNRP)

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel: I've been using this cleanser for about 10 months now and only have a tiny bit left (I wanted to add it as it's only got about a couple of week's worth of product in it). It's been a really good non-stripping evening cleanser which I really enjoy. It foams up quite a lot but it never leaves me feeling dry or irritated. It does contain a small amount of fragrance which smells abit like chlorine but it's not unpleasant and you don't notice it after awhile. A reliable evening cleanser that leaves my skin feeling deeply cleansed (8/10, WRP)

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (combination/oily skin): This isn't anything fancy but it does what it's meant to do. I use this to remove my eye makeup and it works fine. I'm not sure if it helps with my oily t-zone but it gets the job done! I feel like most fragrance free micellar waters would work just as well. I'm currently using the Nivea Micellair Cleansing Water so when I finish it I can compare them (8/10, MRP)

Harurharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner: I started using this toner last March and I absolutely love it! I feel like it lasted me 8 months because I was only using it 4 times a week (in between my chemical exfoliant). I have no complaints about this toner! It has a lavender scent which isn't overpowering and it fills my skin with hydration. It works and I've since bought the 300ml bottle which I feel like is going to last me until the end of the year. Definitely a Holy Grail!! (10/10, WRP)

Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water: I started using this last September and would say that I have mixed feelings about it. The thing that caught my attention first was the smell and colour of the formulation. It was almost a dupe for the Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner which I didn't really enjoy because of this exact same reason. This was why I was put off by the product however the results were so good! I honestly think that when I used this toner my skin was the best it has ever been! Overall I think I'm undecided about this product. It basically comes down to style over substance and which I think is more important (7/10, MRP)

iUnik Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum x2: This has easily become one of my Holy Grails! I've been using it since September last year and I have seen some great results in my sebum production and overall skin health. The main ingredient is propolis which is barrier strengthening, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. These properties make it perfect for acne prone skin as it's good at soothing and wound healing. It also contains witch hazel, niacinamide and Sea Buckthorn (a natural form of Vitamin C). I immediately noticed how it controls my sebum and strengthens my skin. It also has anti-oxidant properties due to the Vitamin C and is meant to protect the skin from free radical damage (9/10, WRP)

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA: I've repurchased this 4 times now and it's because this serum has changed my skin for the better! I bought it to help fade acne scars, as the spot treatments I'd used in the past worked too slowly. Whenever I use this on new breakouts it either makes them disappear before they surface or helps heal the dark marks left by old breakouts. It works so quickly that I feel like I never have a breakout for longer than a few days. And even when it leaves a scar this serum helps to heal it quicker (10/10, WRP)

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Sleeping Cream x2: I've been using this moisturiser since last summer and it is my favourite one that I've used in the evening. The consistency is like a thick gel cream which melts into the skin and fills it with moisture. I love how velvety and smooth it feels and how it leaves my skin feeling plump and nourished. It's the perfect balance of hydration and moisture to prevent TEWL overnight (10/10)

Missha Aqua Sun Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ x2: I've only used a few facial sunscreens and this is my favourite one by far! It has a lightweight lotion formula which doesn't feel greasy. It blends in really well and doesn't leave a white cast. It has a very subtle scent and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. If I'm in a rush I can even use this in the place of a moisturiser. They've recently reformulated it but hopefully it still delivers the same level of protection and moisture (10/10)

Avene Thermal Spring Water: This is basically water in a can but I find it really useful for misting my face before toner. I feel like it really helps all my other products to absorb better and refreshes my skin at the same time. It also contains minerals and probiotics to strengthen the skin barrier. That's all there is to say! (7/10, WRP)

Eucerin Intensive Lip Balm: This is my go-to evening lip product that keeps my lips moisturised throughout the night. It's not at all heavy or greasy and I notice that my lips are less dry in the morning whenever I use this. Holy Grail and all-round lifesaver! (10/10, WRP)

I really hope you've enjoyed hearing all my thoughts about the skincare products I've been emptying and loving (some more than others). I think it tells you a lot when you've gone through 2 lots of the same product within 5 months. Although I have just started a new Vitamic C serum, as I wanted to use my Purito Centella Unscented Toner due to the iUnik having witch hazel (as does the toner). I didn't want to overdo it with the witch hazel as I've found it works better for my skin in small amounts. So I bought the Purito Pure Vitamin C Serum to replace it. It does contain 5% Ascorbic Acid which means that it's more unstable and I'll have to introduce it gradually. However, as it's a small concentration it should be easy to incorporate without too much irritation. I'm starting off with every other day and mixing it with my Cosrx Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence which has anti-redness properties. Hopefully this will help to buffer the Ascorbic Acid and minimise any potential sensitivity.

I'm also going to change up my morning cleanser to the Pacifica Vegan Ceramide Extra Gentle Cleanser as the brand has just been launched in Superdrug and I've heard a lot of positive things from Cassandra Bankson (skincare YouTuber). I also want to try a cleanser that doesn't foam as much and is fragrance free. It claims to remove makeup, dirt and oil residue from the skin which means that I could use it as both my first and second cleanse in the evening. I'll have to keep you updated on how things go and whether it's effective at makeup removal. I feel like it's only going to take off mascara rather than a full face of makeup as it's marketed as an "extra gentle" cleanser. I have several toners and essences that I want to try and are waiting their turn in my skincare box. Although at this rate I'll be using them into next year! So I've decided to use half a bottle of each so I get to try them all over a shorter period of time. Then I can make a more informed decision about which one I like best and want to keep using. But it's so difficult to pick just one, as I love trying new toners/essences! Wish me luck!

Who Cares, We Care, Skincare :)