Empties #18

It's Empties time once again! I'm gonna keep this whole 'intro' super short as I'm sure I've said it a million and one times before so instead - let's just jump right in and have a good ol' rummage through my beauty bin...

GARNIER MOISTURE BOMB DAY AND NIGHT CREAMS - This duo has fastly become my favourite day and night cream combination. Having previously tried the matching tissue mask from the same range, I had high hopes for this pair too and thankfully, I was in luck. They intently hydrate my skin, leaving it all moisturised and glowy and feeling super soft and smooth too. The day cream is super lightweight and so works well under makeup, whereas the night cream is a little thicker (though still not at all heavy or greasy feeling) and so really does the job at giving my skin a proper boost overnight.

UNA BRENNAN SUPER FACIALIST VITAMIN C+ SKIN RENEW CLEANSING OIL - In terms of cleansing, this has become my new favourite. I'm now fully onto my second bottle, but the first one I ever picked up is the one I'm showing you lovely lot today. It is awesome - it acts great both as a stand-alone cleanser, or simply as my second step to cleanse my actual skin after removing my makeup using my beloved Garnier Micellar Water (more on that later). You only need a tiny amount for your entire face and you simply rub it in, lather it up using warm water and then wash it off and your face is left super squeaky-clean, but still super hydrated too.

SUPERDRUG VITAMIN C LEAVE-ON MOISTURE MASK - This one has been rolling round in my collection for what feels like (and probably actually is) an age now, but finally I've have used it all up - at last! This is a great alternative for instead of my usual night cream when I fancy giving my skin an extra treat and what I really love about it is how you can put it on, got to bed and then wake up the next morning and either tissue off any excess or simply massage it in (my personal preference). Right now, it's probably not something I will be re-purchasing just yet,m but it's certainly something I will be bearing in mind for the future...

GARNIER MICELLAR WATER - A complete and utter classic - you all know this one. The best micellar water out there, perfect for removing my makeup before going in with my usual cleanser (as mentioned earlier) or simply used alone if I'm feeling a little lazy that day. It quite literally feels like water, doesn't sting or irritate my skin/eyes, gets all the makeup, dirt and general grime straight off and I love how you can now buy it in basically every size you could ever need - isn't this travel-sized one just super cute?

SOAP AND GLORY SUGAR CRUSH HAND FOOD - If you've been reading round here for some time, you'll probably already know that I am a big advocate for Soap and Glory's Hand Food. It is the best hand cream out there - super moisturising and hydrating, yet sinks in like a dream in no time at all, leaving no uncomfortable residue behind. What more could you ask for, eh? This edition has especially been a favourite of mine these past few months as not only is it the same formula that I love, but this time, it's in the Sugar Crush fragrance. I just love the sweet, yet citrusy scent of this whole range and so it was always likely that the two combined would be a hit with me. Oh yeah.

SOAP AND GLORY 'SCRUB OF YOUR LIFE' BODY SCRUB - Currently, I'm making my way through (and loving) a body scrub from Zoella Beauty, but before that this was my body buffer of choice. As opposed to the hand cream mentioned above, this product has the iconic, classic S&G fragrance which everyone knows and loves and the actual formula itself is pretty darn awesome too. I love the whole convenience of the squeezey tube and the consistency is super scrubby and abrasive - so gets the job done - but at the same time, it's not at all harsh on the skin.

TREVOR SORBIE BEAUTIFULLY STRAIGHTENED LIGHTWEIGHT SERUM - Hair-wise, this is another product that has been in my stash for far too long and so after resolving to finally use it up recently, I've finally done it. I tend to apply this after washing my hair, before blow-drying it and it always did a great job at making my hair more sleeks and smooth and also keeping it looking and feeling in fairly good condition too. Basically all I want in my hair as a whole - so that can only be a good thing, right?

GOT2B MIND-BLOWING XPRESS DRY STYLING SPRAY - Secondly, and lastly for hair - a styling spray. When my last heat protectant ran out, instead of heading straight out and buying a new one, I instead had a rummage through the rest of my stash and round this old gem which I figured would be best to use up first. This is actually a pretty good shout too as not only does it work as a means of shielding your tresses from the damaging effects of the heat, but it actually helps your hair dry faster too and also acts nicely as a kind of styling spray aswell as it - much like the serum - helps to smooth out the natural texture of my hair and aid the whole styling process later on. Lovely.

RIMMEL LASTING FINISH CONCEALER IN 'PORCELAIN' - I have been gradually making my way through this concealer for what feels like forever now, but unlike some of the other products in here which have taken me a while to get through, I have been using it consistently - it's just lasted and lasted and lasted for ages. This is the perfect concealer for when I need some extra coverage on areas that my usual cover-up has not fully done the job - for example, in the very inner corner of my under-eyes where things are the darkest/bluest and also on any pesky blemishes too. It also comes in real handy for shaping and sculpting out my brows and also acting as a kind of 'eraser' when I make a mistake and need to correct it - asap. It's just an all-round lifesaver really...

NYX MICRO BROW PENCILS IN 'ASH BROWN' AND 'ESPRESSO' - This product has fast become my go-to, everyday option for filling in my brows. The tiny pencil nib makes adding serious bulk to my very sparse brows easy-peasy, but still in a very 'hairlike' way and I love how the dual-ended set up means there's a handy spoolie on the other end which you can use to brush through your brows before and after to get an idea of the shape and also comb the product through. These two colours combined together make for the perfect hue for me and the hard, waxing formula stays in place all day long. You just know I've got another pair on the go already...


L'OREAL VOLUME MILLION LASHES SO COUTURE MASCARA - I tend to go through a mascara around once a month or something like that and the most recent one I've made my way through is this offering from L'Oreal. I haven't tried that many of the mascaras from the brand, but those I have sampled have been awesome and this one was certainly no different. I'd always heard amazing things about the Volume Million Lashes range and so had fairly high hopes that this would live up to my expectations and thankfully, it more than did. This delivered on all fronts - length, lift, volume, thickness - and with a formula that did not move anywhere all day long.

BARRY M SUNSET TOP COAT NAIL PAINT - Finally - something for the ol' Nails. It's not often that I reach the end of a nail polish (who's with me?) and while this may not be entirely finished per se, it's definitely no longer usable and so must be relegated to the beauty bin and later repurchased in a much better, fresher state. This is one of my favourite, go-to top coats - whether it be for finishing off a look using one of the Sunset Nail Paints, or simply another polish from a different range - and it does a darn awesome job at it. It apples onto the nails like a dream, dries in no time at all and really locks whatever lacquer you've got underneath into place for a much longer period of time than it would without using it. I love how fast-drying it is and how not much longer after you've put it on, you can go about your business and not worry about things smudging, denting or just completely being ruined. Yay!