little white truths

I've been meaning to write this empties post for a while, it's just that other reviews have come first and I only managed to edit the photos last night.

Indeed, I have another two empties posts ready to be photographed and I should have done them last month, it's just that I was so busy in March that I had to save them for April.

Hoh well. Better late than never I guess. Let's have a look.

Argo Naturals Pure Thanaka Powder

Full review here. This is one of those products that I ended up owning for absolutely ages because it's a dry powder and a little goes a long way, plus I liked adding it to masks that weren't working for me so I was in no rush to finish it because it was useful.

The powder itself has a lot of uses (you can use it as a cleanser, mask, exfoliant and finishing powder), but in the end I just added it to masks because I found it turned bad products into good ones and made substandard masks worth my time. It's not an easy product to come by in Australia (it was sent to me for review), but if it were, I would consider buying it again. Purchase? Maybe.

Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub

I did quite like this scrub, although it was a little drier than some of the others I've tried so it didn't adhere to the skin as well as I would have liked - meaning I needed to use more per application than I do with other scrubs. I've reviewed it here. 

I love using coffee scrubs for the scent and I enjoyed the smell of this one, although it wasn't as rich and complex as some of the others I've tried. In terms of effect, my skin always felt polished and refreshed after use (smoother too), so it worked well as a scrub but it dried my skin out a little because it wasn't as hydrating as other scrubs I've tried. Repurchase? No.

Natio Orange Blossom Body Lotion

Full review here. This product was ok but I did have a number of issues with it and I wouldn't return to this formula. It was quite thin and runny, and it never felt hydrating enough when I used it. Indeed, my body always felt thirsty after use so it didn't suit my dry skin well.

It also left a tacky finish behind and I could tell that not all of it was absorbing into my skin, so it wasn't surprising that it wasn't nourishing enough for me. Overall I don't think it was an awful product, it just didn't meet my personal needs. If you have oily skin it might be fine for you, but it didn't have enough punch for me. Repurchase? No.

Rituals Infinity Hand Wash

This was a nice hand wash, and while I didn't really 'notice' using it, what I can say is that it's better than most because it didn't dry my hands out. The bottle also lasted me ages so it was good value. I've reviewed it here.

It had a soft mandarin and mint scent, although it didn't smell as strongly as I would have liked (especially because all the other Rituals products I've used have smelled heavenly). The product lathered a little but it didn't have that drying, soapy foam feel, and it trod the right balance between being gentle while still being effective. Overall I liked it but it didn't grab me so I wouldn't buy it again. Repurchase? No.

Trilogy Age Proof Nutrient Plus Firming Serum

Full review here. I liked this product a lot better than the last Trilogy serum I tried, so it was pleasantly surprising. It spread like water on the skin, meaning that a little went a long way so it lasted for ages.

I liked that it was cooling and soothing when applied, and it also left a thin coating on the skin that had a slight firming effect and added some radiance, so I think the product has been named well. Note, though, that it wasn't the most hydrating product I've tried and it wouldn't work well for me in the cooler months when my skin's at its driest. Still, it suited me in summer and it also sat well under makeup. Repurchase? Probably not.

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Borage Seed Oil

While this product wasn't awful, it didn't work well for me and I wouldn't buy it again. It also smelled bad (it had a strong, meaty scent) and I found the smell hard to tolerate. A lot of people have said the same thing, so do be aware of that. I've reviewed it here.

Plus I found that it didn't absorb properly so it didn't hydrate my skin as I'd hoped it would. Instead it sat on top of my face and left me with an uncomfortable feeling (not to mention the awful scent). Do note that I've seen a lot of people give this oil bad reviews so I would opt for one of The Ordinary's other oils instead. This is the first dud I've tried. Repurchase? No.

Andalou Naturals Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask

Full review here. This is an excellent product and I recommend it. A little went a long way so it lasted me ages, and it wasn't expensive to start with so that's a plus.

It stung a bit when applied (not in an 'ouch' way, but in a 'this is working' kind of way) and it was one of those rare masks that gave me obvious benefits when I used it. It left me with wonderfully smooth and soft skin that looked brighter, fresher and happier overall - and because the product removed the top layer of dead skin and gunk from my face, I always found that my skincare sunk in beautifully after use. It also reduced my fine lines on the day after use and ensured that my makeup went on smoother too. Repurchase? Yes.

BareMinerals Clay Chameleon Transforming Purifying Cleanser

This was a really lovely cleanser, and while it wasn't the most effective cleanser I've tried, I'll forgive that because I got so much enjoyment from using it. I've reviewed it here.

It was smooth and silky in texture, and it felt really lovely when applied. I used it as my second cleanse in the morning or evening, and what I found was that my face always feels soft, smooth and silky after use. It also felt gently hydrated and clean, so it was a good product for my dry, sometimes sensitive skin because it wasn't too astringent. I loved using it. Repurchase? Yes.

In sum

I'm glad to have my first empties post done for the month and I'm hoping to get a couple more in over the next two weeks.

The best items in this lot were the BareMinerals cleanser, the Andalou mask and the Urban Decay eye primer. I would buy all of these again.

That's all from me. Hope all's well with you, and speak soon x