February Empties: Beauty, Bath and Hair

 
Can you believe that we are already at the end of February? Winter sports training has started for the kids, and despite the fact that our weather is firmly in the summer camp, I can just feel the year flying by! Does anyone else feel like the year seems to go by faster and faster? This selection of empties is what I have collected since my last empties post back in October and it doesn't really seem a lot; although it does feel like I am coming to the end of a lot of other products now, so my next empties post may come around sooner next time!

Beauty

This was, of course, the bulk of my empties, mostly because I am a beauty junkie!!  This month my finished products were a mixture of first time and well loved products.

Aerin Rose Lip Conditioner

I am completely shocked that I have not previously done a review on this lip balm, which is absolutely a desert island item, and my holy grail lip balm!  Every since I started using this lip balm, my chronically chapped and cracked lips have disappeared completely, replaced by soft and supple ones. With a slight rose fragrance, and the merest hint of colour, this balm adds shine and moisture to your lips. This has already been repurchased (multiple times!) and I have one in my car, one in my bag and one in my bedside drawer. That's how much I love it! It's fragrance reminds me of By Terry's Baume de Rose, but I prefer this one, and it's cheaper. Just like the Baume de Rose, I also use this as a cuticle balm, and occasionally on my face if I get a little dry patch.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Extra Mild

I bought this as an affordable morning (non-foaming) cleanser, and while it was alright, I probably won't repurchase, having moved on to Alpha-H's Balancing Cleanser, which I much prefer. I felt like it did its job, and left my skin soft and supple afterwards, (absolutely no tightness after washing) but the smell just didn't do it for me. I can't quite describe it other than "Clinique" smelling - all their products seem to have this non perfumed fragrance to them. It's technically recommended for dry to very dry skin, but it seemed to work just fine with my combo/normal skin.

Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser

This is a great dupe for Eve Lom's cult cleanser, but in my opinion, smells better and does a better job, and for a far better price. I don't faff around with the whole muslin cloth thing, instead keeping a basket of plain old fashioned face washers next to my bathroom sink. They wash easier, and mean I can afford to have more than a weeks worth sitting there ready to go. This cleanser is amazing at taking off makeup, and since switching to it I have really noticed my T-zone settling down. I haven't repurchased yet, simply because I am using up another hot cloth cleanser that I already had, but I am sure to buy this again in the future.

Pevonia Power Repair Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream

I was recommended this night cream by my facialist and it is divine. Does it do everything it names suggests is should do? I don't know. But it feels amazing on the skin, when I wake up my skin is supple and plump, and the smell is gorgeous (but strong - if you are sensitive, I would give this one a miss). Full of supposedly miracle like things such as Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen and Squalane, this cream did keep my skin ultra hydrated, and over the long term I did see an improvement in fine lines and the overall texture of my skin. Haven't repurchased yet because I have a stash of night creams to get through, but depending on how those other ones stack up, it is likely I would try this cream again in the future.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum

This serum is absolutely gorgeous, feels amazing on, and (if you like the proprietary Chanel "scent") smells lovely. I bought this when my skin was feeling particularly dehydrated last winter, and it made a huge difference immediately. Containing micro droplets of camellia oil within the serum, the texture is very "wet"unlike most serums which are either more gel like, or more oil like. This felt lovely and light on the skin, and played well with all of my other creams. Haven't repurchased, simply because I like playing around with my skincare, and I have moved onto something else. I do, however, recommend it, and might circle back again down the track, because really, who doesn't love a bit of Chanel on their vanity?

Bath

Nivea In Shower Conditioner

I got this in a sample bag a while ago, and found it quite a useful product, especially on busy mornings when I don't always have the time or inclination to apply body moisturiser after my shower. Basically, you use it in exactly the same way as a hair conditioner, but on your body after you have washed. You then rinse off, and you are done. It was an OK product, but I found it left an almost filmy feeling on the skin, and I wasn't 100% keen on the fragrance, so it ended up taking a long time to finish, and I wouldn't buy it again.

Dermaveen Daily Nourish Soap Free Body Wash

I don't use this body wash myself (I like things that smell pretty!!), but it is a must have for the rest of the family who suffer from either eczema or psoriasis. Soap free, PH balanced, and containing colloidal oatmeal, this is one of the only body washes I have found that not only doesn't irritate their sensitive skin, it actually soothes them when they are having flare ups. I highly recommend this to anyone who will listen, and it is a must have in our house.

Sanctuary Spa Two Day Moisture Shower Oil

Can you tell I love Sanctuary Spa? I purchased this shower oil to use over winter because my skin was so, so dry and this promised to help. And it did! I'm not sure the moisture lasted two days as claimed, but it was deeply moisturising and hydrating, and had a pleasant (but not amazing) fragrance. I haven't repurchased because I like something lighter with a more refreshing scent for summer, but as the weather gets cooler (eventually!) I would definitely go and get another bottle.

Hair

 

Revlon Professional Nutri Colour Creme

If you colour your hair, either yourself or at a salon, then I am telling you, track down one of these in your shade and add it to your hair care routine. It is that amazing. A 3 in 1 treatment, colour refresher and shine enhancer, this will help extend and protect your colour. It only needs to be on for three minutes, and it works its magic. It comes in a range of colours - 1002 is great for removing any brassiness in blonde hair, and so I mix some in with the main colour that I use 812 (light pearl). This really keeps my lightened hair in tip top shape, and maintains that just been to the salon colour.

Kerastase Cristalliste Lumiere Liquide

This is a heavily scented (so may be off putting for some) but lightweight oil for hair, that I mostly used on damp hair straight from the shower, but is actually designed as a finishing oil on dry hair. I never really used it as a finishing oil because I simply found it too heavy for my ultra fine hair, and because I didn't want to throw out a full bottle of expensive hair oil, I thought I would try it as a treatment product instead. Given it wasn't being used for its purpose, it worked pretty well, but it is definitely something I would recommend for people with thicker hair than mine.

So there are all of my empties for this month! I would love to know your thoughts on these products; are some of them your favourites, too, or do you have other products you think I should try instead?