little white truths

Now for my second empties post for the month! As mentioned in my first empties post, I got through more products this month than I thought I had. Many are travel sized so that's part of the reason why I've knocked quite a few off, but there are some full-sized items there too.

Mostly I'm excited about getting through my Bodyography tinted moisturiser: while it's a good product, I have far too many bases on hand and I'm always glad to move one out of circulation!


Happy Skincare Raindrops on Roses Hydrating Tonic

Full review here. As you may know I love Happy Skincare products and this one is no exception. I reckon it does smell exactly like raindrops on roses - so fresh and light - and feels wonderful on the skin. It's definitely hydrating and I like using it throughout the day to freshen my face, particularly in summer because it's cooling and refreshing too. Repurchase? Yes.

Happy Skincare Black Cumin Seed Oil

Full review here. This is my second favourite Happy oil and it's less expensive than the Tamanu oil that comes in at number one. It's everything an oil should be - hydrating, nourishing and soothing - and my skin always feels and looks better after using it. Do note that it smells quite strongly of cumin, so if you're not a fan of the scent (I am), you mightn't like it. Repurchase? Yes.


Essenzza Fuss Free Naturals Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes, Cleanse + Exfoliate

Full review here. As you may know, these are my HG facial wipes. They're textured on one side and smooth on the other (great for exfoliating and removing grime) and they contain plenty of moisture. I loved the pineapple scent of these green versions (they also come in pink and blue) and the green ones may well end up being my favourites of the three colours, due to the scent. Repurchase? Yes.


Biology Equilibrium Body Lotion No. 304

This was a Violet Box sample. Full review here. It was a decent, 30ml sized sample and I loved this as soon as I opened it and smelled its lemonade icy-pole goodness. It's moisturising and a little goes a long way, so the sample lasted longer than I'd thought it would. It doesn't feel like a heavy cream but it operates like one (it's super nourishing) and my dry skin loves it. Purchase? Yes.

Urban Skincare Co Infuse Body Balm

This was an LHI sample and I loved it too. Full review here. It smells rich and gingery, and like the Biology sample, it's super nourishing without being heavy or leaving a greasy residue. Also, both Urban Skincare and Biology are Australian brands and I do love supporting local companies. Purchase? Yes.


Migabee Hot Pore Peeling System and Cooling Mask Clean

I received a Migabee set from Memebox and these are two out of the three products included. Full review here. The scrub was ok (that's the red one) although I was a bit perplexed by it because it was meant to heat up and it didn't. But it did have some exfoliating action and I didn't mind it. The cleaning mask (the blue one) was the best product of the three and I quite liked it. It had a nice tightening effect on my skin and made it look brighter and smoother after use, although I have products I prefer that achieve the same thing. Purchase? No, on both counts.


Bodyography Flawless Finish Tinted Moisturiser in Medium

Full review here. In short, I really like this tinted moisturiser but I HATE the built-in brush applicator it comes with. Unfortunately you can't remove it, so I ended up pouring the product into a jar so I didn't have to use it. Also, I think $60 is too expensive for this (I paid half price, but still) so I won't be buying it again. Repurchase? No.

Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Makeup Remover

Full review here. This is definitely gentle and removes facial makeup well enough, but it doesn't remove mascara (or gel eyeliner) and considering it's a dedicated eye makeup remover, it should do both. It doesn't have great reviews online and I can see why. Purchase? No.


Mise En Scene 2x Curling Essence

This was a Memebox product and I didn't think much of it at all unfortunately. Full review here. It weighs my hair down and makes it look dull, and doesn't do anything in terms of adding moisture or shine (and it's meant to, according to the claims). It's probably one of the worst leave-in products I've come across. I used it as a hair mask after shampooing/conditioning just to get through it, but it wasn't amazing for that purpose either. Purchase? No.

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate 

Full review here. I normally love Lancome skincare (and it used to be 'my' brand before I became a beauty junkie), but I didn't think much of this product at all. It seems too watery and thin to me and I just don't feel any goodness in it. My skin looks no different after application, nor have I seen any cumulative effect over time. Purchase? No.

Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash

Full review here. I expected to love this because the original Beauty Flash Balm (reviewed here) is one of my HG products, but this was pretty rubbish to be honest. For me it does nothing: it's not hydrating, has no effect on dark circles or wrinkles, and doesn't particularly revive my eye area either. I also don't think it moisturises properly. What a let-down! Purchase? No.


In sum

An interesting mix of products in this bunch: some I really loved and some I really didn't. The best from the lot would have to be the two Happy Skincare products, the Essenzza wipes and the two sample body lotions from Biology and Urban Skincare Co.

Looking forward to seeing what winds up in May's empties post : )