little white truths

My empties box is so overflowing these days that I may well be able to sneak in a third empties post by year's end - it all depends on how much time I have over the next week in among all the festive noise.

But I did find time yesterday to rush in these photos before we had to put all my equipment and props away so we could clean the house (we have guests staying at the moment), and I wanted to write at least one empties post before Christmas - just so I could move a few more bottles into the recycling bin. 

Anyhoo. Let's have a look.

Full review here. I didn't mind this product but I didn't love it either - reason being, I was expecting it to be intensely moisturising (I mean, look at the title) and great for my dry hands, but unfortunately it was no more hydrating than any regular hand cream so it didn't do what I wanted it to do.

While this would be a good, everyday hand cream for a lot of people, I need something more these days so this didn't cut the mustard, but it was fine as a body cream so I got through it that way and didn't mind it for that use. Repurchase? No.

Camille Beckman Hand Therapy in Tuscan Honey

This was a beautiful hand cream and it sat on my bedside table for something like 18 months before I decided that it had been open long enough and it was time to start getting through it by using it on my body as well. I've reviewed it here.

It's just a wonderfully hydrating product that feels luxurious and the packaging is gorgeous so the whole process of using it each evening made me feel special. That's what you want from your products! Plus it wasn't too expensive and I'm all for affordable luxury ; ). Repurchase? Yes.

Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer in Mood Light

The problem I find with these primers is that they sit in pores so they're really visible on the skin, and they also have a weird finish that I find really drying. Plus they streak like no tomorrow and I have so much trouble rubbing them in.

This little sample did nothing but confirm my first impressions on Luminous Light (see that post here), and I really should have done a full review of Mood Light because there was enough in the sample for over two weeks' solid use. But I think I've said enough in the Luminous Light first impressions post so do check that out if you want more info on the formula. Purchase? No.

SK-II R.N.A Eye Cream 

This is a beautifully hydrating eye cream that's great for dry, dehydrated skin like mine and those of us who can't say 'I'm in my twenties' without lying. I've reviewed it here.

While I normally don't feel that super expensive products are worth their chunky price-tags (this is $149 AUD at full size), in this case I feel it's worth it because a little goes a long way (so it lasts longer than most eye creams, making up its value on a price-per-use basis) and my eye area is looking much happier after using it for over a month. Ticks from me. Purchase? Maybe.

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cream

Full review here. This has done the rounds in the beauty community lately so I was looking forward to trying it, and I was pleased to discover that it's a beautifully simple, everyday cream that just does what it's designed to do: hydrate and soothe without fuss or fanfare.

Caroline Hirons raves about this one and that's usually enough to make skincare lovers want to try it, and I'll throw my two cents' into the mix and urge you to grab a sample. It's a great product that costs less in practice than other Kate Somerville skincare: the full size is a whopping 120ml so I reckon it's worth the $94 AUD outlay - especially because a little goes a long way. Purchase? Maybe.

  

L'Oreal Revitalift Magic Blur Day Cream

I didn't like this at all and I really don't have much to say about it, other than that I don't understand these 'blurring' creams that are hitting the market: the two I've used are super drying and don't sit well under makeup (or even just sunscreen) because they 'ball up', so it's hard to see how many people would have a use for them. 

I have reviewed it but the link is broken for some reason (argh) so I'll investigate that, but suffice to say that I used this mixed in with my body cream because I couldn't work out what else to do with it. Purchase? No.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Body Lotion

Full review here. I've used this before and I liked it just as much the second time around.

It smells divine, is beautifully hydrating and a little goes a long way so even this sample lasted a good while. It's just one of those inexpensive body creams that does its job well, and I would buy it again for the fresh coconut scent alone. Repurchase? Yes.

Project Pan 2016 products

I won't go on about these too much here because I've done that enough via Project Pan 2016, but suffice to say that I liked the Lust Have It Sunset Strobe Highlighter enough to use it but not enough to keep it in my collection, and the Estee Lauder Sensuous EDP was too heavy for me so I used it as an air freshener for the bathroom, rather than using it on myself. Purchase? No to both.

In sum

This isn't my best lot of empties this year but I did really like the Camille Beckman and Palmer's products, and the SK-II and Kate Somerville items are also ones that I wouldn't knock back if they came my way again. The others I can take or leave.

Do let me know if you've finished anything amazing this month: I'd love to hear.

Speak soon x