Another 6 Months of Empties!

 

Hello my beauties!!! 😊😊😊

So I'm back with another 'Empties' post after 6 months... Where does the time go??? As I said last time my skin barrier is still recovering from over-exfoliation and I still can't use actives such as Vitamin C or alpha arbutin 😞 I tried reintroducing Vitamin C for a few weeks but my skin would get irritated and red so I stopped using it. I also tried exfoliating again with the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner with BHA and AHA. However every time I used it I'd get all these tiny pimples on my skin which I'd pick and then my skin got inflamed. I've really had enough of my unpredictable and super sensitive skin! I've tried taking it super slowly with actives but my skin still chooses to have a breakdown whenever I try anything with actives- even at low percentages 😓 I seriously wish my skin would get back to normal already! Anyway, rant aside, let's just get straight into the products I've been using...

Aqua Sens Cooling Mist Spray (x4): There's not much I can say about this mist other than it's a Holy Grail and is still my preferred way to wet my face before applying toners and serums (10/10, Holy Grail)

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser: A nice and gentle cleanser that's perfect for the AM as it's non-stripping and cleanses effectively. Have been using this for about 5 years now and it's my favourite cleanser for the morning (8/10, WRP)

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Water (100ml): This is a very pricey micellar water but it's super gentle on the eye area and breaks down eye makeup really well. This was the same price as the Garnier All In One Micellar Water in the 400ml bottle 😮 But it's great for travel and it does what it says on the tin (8/10, MRP)

Benton Deep Green Tea Toner: I'd almost finished this toner in my last empties post but wanted to use it up to the very last drop! I love how hydrating this toner is and how it balances my oil-water levels. I think it's been discontinued on Stylevana but I know Amazon still stocks it for around £16 or so (9/10, MRP)

Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water: This is probably my third or fourth bottle of this toner as I love it so much! It's light and hydrating as well as balancing my oily skin and helping to keep my skin clear. I wasn't sure about the herbal smell to begin with but now I actually like how earthy it is. Ginseng is an ingredient which can be used for brightening, hydrating, reducing inflammation and boosting collagen production (10/10, Holy Grail)

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner (x2): I've been using the fragrance free version of this toner for the past 8 months and I find it super hydrating and soothing. I used to use the lavendar scented version before I damaged my skin barrier and found it to be the perfect toner for the PM. However the FF version still has the same viscous feel to it that sinks into the skin like a dream! I'm currently using the jumbo size as I know it'll go alot further and you're getting more for your money as well (10/10, Holy Grail)

Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum: I've honestly lost track of how many bottles of this I've gone through but would guess between 6 to 8. This serum is my saviour whenever my skin is irritated or sensitive and I need some calming and soothing. It's helped to strengthen my skin barrier more times than I can recall. It really is a very effective calming serum that I can always rely on to repair my barrier when it's in crisis (10/10, Holy Grail)

Purito Centella Unscented Serum: I love this serum so much as it's always helped to control my oil levels and soothe my skin. It also has ceramides and peptides so its super hydrating and repairing, as well as helping to calm any redness or irritation. I'm probably on my 10th bottle of the stuff and have been using it for at least 4 years. I might have to try the reformulated version when this bottle runs out though. So I'm hoping I love it just as much as the original! (10/10, Holy Grail)

Soon Jung Hydro Barrier Cream (75ml tube and 130ml jar): I have enjoyed using this moisturiser for the last couple of years as it always deeply moisturises and keeps my barrier strong. Although I'm still trying to strengthen my barrier, it has remained a reliable product and always manages to make my skin feel protected. However, recently I've been using the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream that I asked for on my birthday. It feels alot more luxurious in texture but I'll probably repurchase the Soon Jung moisturiser once the Dynasty Cream runs out (9/10, Holy Grail)

Simple Soothing Water Cream: I bought this as a lightweight moisturiser for the AM and I wasn't disappointed! It has a lovely gel texture that melts into the skin and leaves it feeling smooth and hydrated. It doesn't provide super deep moisturisation but it's enough for my oily skin in the morning (8/10, MRP)

Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser: I've had this in my skincare drawers for months and thought I should probably use it up. It's got a nice lightweight lotion consistency which is suitable for normal to oily skin types. It offers a good amount of moisture without being too heavy on the skin which is why I use it in my AM routine. I probably won't purchase it again for awhile as it's a super basic moisturiser- I just wanted to use it up! (7/10, MRP)

I hope you enjoyed my round up of all the products I've been using for the last 6 months. I'm surprised by how many there were! Especially as I haven't used anything new for awhile, apart from the Simple Soothing Water Cream. I've recently purchased a new exfoliating toner which is The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. I'm hoping it'll be a much more gentle alternative to the BHA and AHA toners I've previously used. I'll keep you updated on how I get on with it! 😊 I've also bought a new cleanser which is the Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser. I like how it's a cleanser that simultaneously protects the barrier and removes makeup in one step. I've recently been experiencing some irritation whenever I use an oil cleanser so I thought this gel cleanser might be abit more gentle... So far so good!👍

Who Cares, We Care, Skincare! :)