little white truths

Hello and welcome to my first empties post for November 2017.

Happily it's been a good month for finished products already and I may well have enough to do three empties posts this month, if I can squeeze them in.

In no particular order...

Sukin Moisture Rich Body Crème

Full review here. While this wasn't a bad product, I didn't love it either and I'm glad to be through it.

I had a few issues with it: it wasn't that hydrating (so my skin always felt dry after use); it took some work to rub in and I don't have time for all that with two young kids; and I also wasn't convinced that all of it absorbed properly.

Sure it wasn't terrible and I like Sukin as a brand, but I've used better products from the range and I wouldn't use this one again. Repurchase? No.

Rituals, The Ritual of Dao Shower Foam

If you read this blog, you'll likely already know how much I love Rituals products - and indeed I almost cried when the brand packed up and left Australia not long after it arrived. Foo!

I've reviewed this product here. While this wasn't my favourite scent (it was too soapy and plain for my personal tastes), the product itself has always been my HG shower gel and I rationed this bottle because I've only got two more left. Thank god I stocked up while I could!

I'm yet to find another shower product that delivers such an intense, rich and velvety foam. It's so luxurious and so damn special. Please come back, Rituals, please... Repurchase? Yes.

Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Exfoliating Wash

Full review here. This cleanser was given to me and I wouldn't have chosen it for myself because it's not designed for my dry skin.

Happily, though, it didn't dry my skin out and indeed it was so gentle that I can't imagine it doing anything for oil control. The grains in it were also very soft and sparse, so the product didn't do anything towards exfoliating my face either. I've seen other reviewers say similar things so it's safe to say that it doesn't do much for anyone. Still, at least it didn't strip my skin. Purchase? No.

Simple Radiance Brightening Facial Wash

On the other hand, I absolutely loved this cleanser and I'm so sad it's gone! It was given to me at the same time as the other Simple one, and I hadn't expected to love it anywhere near as much as I did. I've reviewed it here.

It was gentle, it smelled divine and it cleansed beautifully too. The whole experience of using it was lovely. Problem is, I can't seem to find it anywhere to repurchase! The other cleanser, unfortunately, is everywhere. Isn't that always the way?! Purchase? Yes.

Apotheca, The Immortal

This came from Maslow & Co (see unboxing post here) and I liked the look of it because it's a special little jar and the product smelled like chocolate; it's a 'powdered tonic' that's supposed to restore and nourish your beauty from within.

Sure it tasted ok and it was easy enough to throw into your coffee or smoothie, but I'm not big on the idea of spending money on edible beauty products: that's what your diet is for, pure and simple, and I reckon products like this are a step in the wrong direction. Eat well. Don't have too much sugar. Save your pennies for face creams. That's just what I think. Purchase? No.

Jergens Natural Glow Colour Primer In-Shower Scrub

Full review here. This was sent to me for review and while I didn't hate it, I didn't love it either and I'm glad that it's gone. To be honest, though, it's not quite gone because I ended up dispensing the remains into the hand wash pump in the kitchen - just so I could remove it from the shower and justify opening something else.

It smelled very sweet and the texture was ok, but the exfoliating grains are too fine and gentle for me so I didn't feel that it offered a very good scrub. Yes it polished a little bit, but not enough for my personal tastes. I reckon a gentle product like this is better for facial use, except apparently you can't use this on your face. Purchase? No.

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleaning Oil

Full review here. This is one of the nicest cleansing oils I've used and I'm rationing my second sample-sized bottle because I don't want to finish it! It's not often that I come across a cleansing oil or balm that I like this much, but I do really enjoy this one and I may eventually buy it because I know I'll miss it once it's gone.

I agree that it's soothing and it feels so beautifully hydrating and nourishing on my dry skin. It also removes makeup well and it has no scent so I reckon it should suit sensitive skin. Sure it's not cheap, but I suspect that the full-sized bottle would last me close to a year so I can live with the price-tag. Purchase? Yes.

Calvin Klein Delicious Pout Lip Gloss in Pastel Gold

This came as a GWP with a Strawberrynet order and it turned rancid not long after I opened it (the scent changed and it started tingling my lips, which it hadn't done before), so I immediately stopped using it and threw it into the empties bin.

Unfortunately I hadn't been able to review it before that so I can't give you a good idea of what it was like. I did enjoy the deep gold colour because it added a nice depth to any lip product I wore underneath it, and while I didn't mind the thick texture, it also wasn't the best gloss I've used and it wasn't hydrating enough to use on its own. As you may know, I've now sworn off ordering from Strawberrynet because I think it stocks a lot of very old products and I don't trust the website. Purchase? No.

Dermaveen Revive & Protect Body Moisturiser SPF 50+

Full review here. This was sent to me for review and while I didn't mind it, it wasn't a great body cream and I ended up using it as my sunscreen instead of my dedicated body cream that I use after showering.

Reason being, it took a lot of work to rub in and I don't have time for all that, plus it didn't hydrate my dry skin well and it didn't absorb properly so it left a coating on my skin. Still, it was fine for occasional use as a sunscreen so all was not lost. Purchase? No.

Alpha-H Age Delay Hand & Cuticle Cream

As you may know, I'm a huge fan of Alpha-H products and it's rare that I come across anything from the brand that I don't like. Unfortunately this was one of those products and I can't recommend it. I've reviewed it here.

My issue with this product was that, not only did it not do anything good for my hands, but it also made matters worse. My hands are dry as it is because I wash them so often after changing nappies etc, but this made them even more parched. It also had a waxy texture that I didn't enjoy and I was surprised to discover that it left my hands in such bad shape. I had to send it to the foot cream section. Purchase? No.

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm

Full review here. You may remember that I unboxed an Omorovicza set a while back and I've been busily testing it ever since. This is the only product I've finished so far and also the only one that I've reviewed, but I'm looking forward to reviewing the other items soon.

It's a very gentle cleansing balm and I did quite like it but I'm not convinced that it's worth the high price-tag because it didn't do a huge amount for my skin. Yes it worked to remove the gunk from my face, but the balm itself wasn't easy to remove and I'm not sold on the gluey, odd texture. I'm glad I've tried it but I wouldn't buy it. Repurchase? No.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

This is the only product I've reviewed from The Ordinary so far (see review here) but I'm looking forward to reviewing my other products once I've used them enough. I do have quite a lot from the range so stay tuned for those reviews if you're interested.

I really liked this product. I bought it as a spot treatment and it worked perfectly for that - it really dried out any bumps and sped up the healing process. I did also try it all over the face and, as you'd expect, a purging process followed so I broke out everywhere, but after that my face was clearer and I got less breakouts. I'm sad it's gone and I would absolutely buy it again: it's cheap and it does exactly what it's meant to do. Repurchase? Yes.

In sum

That's all from me! I hope you enjoyed this little empties post and that you've managed to finish a few products from your own collection this month.

My favourite products in this lot were those from The Ordinary, Rituals and Bobbi Brown. I would buy all of those, and I would also buy the Simple Radiance Brightening Facial Wash if I could find it again!

Hope all's well with you, and speak soon x