Beauty Empties | Products I've Used Up

The early May Bank Holiday has thrown me off course a little, but here are my latest Beauty Empties, a few days later than planned! Check out what I've finished up recently and which products I'll be repurchasing again.

Westlab Mindful Bath Salts* (featured here)

For affordable, budget-friendly bath salts, you can't go wrong with anything from Westlab and you can buy these in big bags from places like TKMaxx where they are even cheaper! I love these Mindful Bath Salts which are infused with Frankincense, Bergamot, and CBD. Repurchase? Yes.

Naturecan CBD Infused Coconut Conditioner* 

Having tried out some skincare from Naturecan a few years ago, I was curious to see what their haircare was like, but if I'm being honest, I've found it a bit disappointing. This conditioner is meant for dry/damaged hair but it didn't feel particularly moisturising/hydrating in my opinion, and had quite a thin and watery texture. Repurchase? No.

Odylique Coconut Candy Scrub* (featured here)

One of my favourite luxury body scrubs of all time, I've gone through so many tubs of this over the years! It smells incredible; just like what you would imagine coconut candy to smell like, and it's packed full of nourishing ingredients so when all the exfoliation is done, your skin feels silky smooth afterwards. Repurchase? Yes.

This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak* (featured here)

Another luxury favourite, again because they work so well, are the Deep Sleep bath salts from This Work. Clinically proven to help you sleep better, I'm a huge fan of this range and adore the ultra-relaxing scent of Lavender and Vetivert. Thankfully, they are quite potent so you don't need to use much each time. Repurchase? Definitely.

Evolve Organic Beauty Rainforest Rescue Blemish Serum* (featured here)

A staple in my skincare routine, this Blemish Serum is one of the best that I've tried for calming down breakouts, without irritating sensitive skin. It feels light and gentle on, but is incredibly effective thanks to a blend of spot-busting plant actives such as Willow Bark and Copaiba. Highly recommended. Repurchase? Will do.

Balmonds Intensive Hand Cream* (featured here)

Every now and then, I get flare-ups of pompholyx eczema on my hands, and Balmonds is my go-to brand to help relieve it. Their Intensive Hand Cream is amazing stuff and free from a long list of 'nasties' so it's a fantastic 99% natural formula. In short, it works! Repurchase? Yes.

Dr. Pawpaw Age Renewal Hand Cream*

Another good option for eczema-ridden hands is this fragrance-free formula from Dr. Pawpaw. It's very hydrating and feels very soothing, plus soaks in easily. Repurchase? Would certainly consider it.

Brave New Hair Keratin Mask Concentrate (travel size)

I liked this a lot. It has a lovely thick texture, is super moisturising for dry hair, and smells fresh and coconutty. Repurchase? Maybe!

Skin & Me Soothe + Smooth Light Moisturiser*

For a straight-up, everyday facial moisturiser, this was brilliant and did the job very well. Packed full of Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides, it keeps your skin nicely hydrated without being too much for my oily/combination type to handle. I also love the metallic tube. Repurchase? I'm using REN at the moment but would consider coming back to this in the future.

Mádara Exfoliating Oil-to-Milk Scrub* (travel size)

I've used this many times in the past - it's a good exfoliator that's quite grainy but not too harsh and I love the oil-to-milk formula. Repurchase? Yes.

What have you been using up lately?

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Recent Beauty Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

It's been a few months since I last posted about my Beauty Empties, but it's definitely time to sort through my trusty bathroom basket and pop these into the recycling bin! Here's my latest roundup of products that I've used up, which ones I'll be repurchasing and which ones will be staying in the bin.

Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo* (reviewed here)

A haircare must-try if you have a sensitive, dry scalp, this shampoo definitely helps to calm down any irritation and keeps dandruff at bay as well. SLS-free, 100% natural, and just brilliant! Repurchase? I'm trying out a different shampoo at the moment but will definitely come back to this I'm sure.

Alive Magnesium Plus Body Recovery Bath Flakes* (reviewed here)

Magnesium flakes are great to add to your bath when you have any kind of pain, inflammation, or muscle fatigue so I always keep a pouch or two of them in the bathroom. This brand is simply 100% natural Magnesium Chloride flakes and they work a treat. Repurchase? Yes.

Mudmasky 3-in-1 Hair Mask, Scalp Treatment & Miracle Shampoo (travel size)

I'm pretty sure that this came to me via a beauty subscription box and it's quite possibly one of the best discoveries I've made in the past year. As the name suggests, it's something of a multi-purpose superstar and is brilliant for fussy, sensitive scalps like mine. Repurchase? Yes, I'd definitely buy the full-size.

The Castilian Soap Company Fragrance-Free Natural Castile Soap

Natural castile liquid soap is another multi-purpose gem that I always have in my stash and I use it for so many different things. From washing my makeup brushes to cleaning the kitchen floors, it's a safe, gentle, and natural detergent alternative, and a little goes a long way. Repurchase? Definitely.

Nourish Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower* (reviewed here)

I've been hit by a lot of illness in the past few months, from having Covid and pneumonia, to general problems with everyday fatigue, so anything soothing that I can use in the bath has been a godsend. I'm a huge fan of Nourish and their Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower should be available on NHS prescriptions; it's that good. Repurchase? Already have.

Scrub Love Clay-Tox Pure Mask

This face mask was an impulse buy in a Holland & Barrett sale, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how well it performed compared to higher-end masks of a similar nature. Great for brightening dull skin and drawing out impurities. Repurchase? I believe it's been discontinued sadly :(

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion* (reviewed here)

Can you tell there's a bit of a theme with the 'bath products for ill people', here?! Another highly recommended saviour is MOA's bestselling Green Bath Potion and this stuff truly is magical when you're feeling congested and like you're dying from flu. It's expensive, but a little goes a long way. Repurchase? On my list. 

Natura Siberica Repairing Natural Hair Mask* (reviewed here)

For an affordable natural hair mask, you can't go wrong with this one from Natura Siberica. It hydrates and nourishes like a dream and smells beautiful too. A simple and easy weekly treatment to give your hair some TLC. Repurchase? I'm using a different product at the moment, but I'd certainly revisit this in the future.

Evolve Hyaluronic Serum 200* (reviewed here)

You know you love a product when you realise that you first reviewed it way back in 2016 and you've repurchased it so many times, you've lost count! I love, love, love Evolve's Hyaluronic Serum 200 and feel that it's become something of a cult must-have on the beauty scene over the years. Repurchase? Of course!

Ooh Oils Of Heaven Natural Cucumber Soothing Face Oil* (reviewed here)

If you have sensitive skin, the Ooh Oils Of Heaven range of face oils is a really good one to look into as each face oil contains only one ingredient, so it's perfect for those who are also paring back their skincare routine. This Cucumber Soothing Face Oil is brilliant for calming down redness and irritation. Repurchase? Yes.

What beauty products have you used up recently?

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June Empties: Products I've Used Up

What a bumper month June was for Empties! I decided to take part in a month-long 'No Buy' challenge over on Instagram and this was the result - a whole box full of beauty empties! As there are so many to discuss, I'll get stuck in straight away.

Therapi Rose Otton No. 2 Hydrating Facial Toner*

A gorgeous luxury Rose Otto-based toner which has just the most divine subtle rose fragrance. Ultra calming and soothing, it's brilliant for refreshing the skin morning and night. Repurchase? I'm using the Dafna's Active Mist at the moment but I'm sure I'll come back to this beauty again in the near future.

Sheffield Skincare Body Oil Lavender & Chamomile*

Lovely 100% natural body oil from an independent Sheffield-based company that I discovered in a beauty box. Great to use after an evening bath to help you relax and unwind. Repurchase? Yes.

Lavera Whitening Toothpaste* 

One of the go-to SLS-free whitening toothpaste that I've been using on and off for years now. It's gentle enough to use on sensitive teeth, contains fluoride, and does a good job of removing daily stains. Repurchase? Yes.

Evolve Organic Beauty Super Berry Body Oil* (reviewed here)

Although stretch marks will never go away, you can improve the texture and appearance of them with a daily targeted body oil and this one from Evolve Organic Beauty definitely helps. This Super Berry range smells amazing too - very sweet like candy! Repurchase? Definitely.

Moor Spa Kelp Enzyme Mask* (reviewed here)

I've loved using this Moor Spa Kelp Enzyme Mask whenever my skin has been feeling congested or on the verge of having a breakout. A brilliant multi-tasker that deeply cleanses, tightens and exfoliates all in one handy weekly facial treatment. Repurchase? I have a lot of face masks to use up at the moment first but it's certainly on my repurchase list.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara*

Despite the fact that I adore the Eyeko Black Magic Eyeliner, I'm not much of a fan of the matching mascara which I found quite clumpy and it dried it in the tube pretty fast after opening. Repurchase? No.

REN & Now To Sleep Pillow Spray*

This is one of my all-time favourite pillow sprays and it really does help! If you suffer from insomnia or sleep problems, I highly recommend using this. Repurchase? Yes.

Tropic Skin Feast Nourishing Cream Concentrate* 

My morning moisturiser for the past few months, Tropic's Skin Feast Nourishing Cream Concentrate is a bestseller for a reason as it provides lots of hydration without overloading the skin. Creates a lovely smooth base for makeup so you don't need to use an additional primer. Repurchase? I'm trying out a couple of different moisturisers at the moment, but like all my faves, I'll be back!

Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant* 

A frequent player in my Empties posts, I've been using Weleda's deodorants for years and often come back to this lovely Wild Rose one. If you're a fan of florals and prefer a lighter, spray-on deodorant, this is the one for you. Repurchase? Already have.

Odacité BI+C Serum Concentrate*

Another skincare favourite for blemishes is Odacité's BI+C Serum Concentrate. A tiny amount goes a long, long way and it makes a huge difference to the size of blemishes after just the first use. Particularly useful for those angry 'under the skin' spots! Repurchase? Yes.

Odylique Mosimix Body Oil*

I've yet to find a product that completely keeps those damn mozzies away, but I can say this Mosimix Body Oil from Odylique seems to stop a few of them so it's handy to take with you if you're camping/hiking/doing outdoor activities this summer. Repurchase? I'll give it another go.

Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Hair Masque* (reviewed here)

Calling all of my fellow fine hair friends! I've used this particular hair masque countless times over the past few years and it's always the one I seem to keep returning to. If you have fine hair that's also dry, you need to try this as it gives your hair all the essential hydration it needs without weighing it down. Repurchase? Yes.

Aurelia Firm & Replenish Body Serum* (reviewed here)

I seem to have used up a lot of body care recently, must be summer! I'm a huge fan of Aurelia's Firm & Replenish Body Serum as it helps to improve skin texture for a smoother appearance - great for using on any 'wobbly bits' to give you a confidence boost. Repurchase? Yes.

The Humble Co Dental Floss*

If you're joining in with Plastic Free July, make sure this is on your shopping list. Not only is the brand ethical in many ways (they donate dental products to people in need all over the world), but the packaging is completely plastic-free, yay! Repurchase? Definitely.

What have you used up recently?

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Sensitive Skincare: Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie and Honey & Oat Cleansing Bar review

If your hands are feeling worse for wear after all that hand sanitiser and extra hand washing, you need the Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie in your life ASAP.

English green beauty brand Odylique has been a favourite of mine for a long time - in fact, they were one of the very first British companies that I discovered when I was looking for natural skincare many years ago! Their Gentle Herb Shampoo is one of the best products that I've ever tried for a sensitive scalp and one that I regularly recommend to family and friends.

Based in Suffolk, Odylique's products are made from natural ingredients, most of which are also certified organic by the Soil Association, and everything is tested by human volunteers who have sensitive skin. This is a great brand for anyone who has dry, sensitive, eczema and psoriasis prone skin as there are no 'nasties' anywhere to be found here - everything is free common irritants and allergens. 

This month, I wanted to shine a spotlight on one of Odylique's hidden bestsellers, their Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie* (60ml, £12, link), a product that really should be raved about more often. This intensely rich and ultra-hydrating hand cream is made from 100% natural ingredients (93% of which are certified organic), and it has a beautiful buttery consistency thanks to lots of plant-based oils and butters such as Coconut Oil, Cocoa Bean Butter and cold-pressed Avocado and Sunflower Oils. 

Surprisingly though, this natural hand cream absorbs into the skin pretty quickly without any lasting greasiness and the moisturising effects are immediate. In addition to the oils and butters, there's Aloe Vera, Calendula and Sea Buckthorn which have been chosen for their healing, soothing and regenerative natural properties, whilst Vanilla, Geranium, Lemon and Lemongrass deliver a fresh and uplifting scent.

If you're struggling with dry hands this winter, Odylique's Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie is the intensive hand cream that you've been searching for and even better, they have 10% off this superstar on their website until the end of November so now's the perfect time to try it for yourselves!

On a side note, I wanted to quickly mention Odylique's Honey & Oat Cleansing Bar* (100g, £6.50, link) pictured in the background in my sustainable PoaPoa Coconut Soap Holder above. This is a very gentle moisturising and exfoliating soap and solid cleanser which you can use for face and body, and it works a treat for sensitive skin that seems to react to everything. Made from just saponified Extra Virgin Olive Oil, saponified Coconut Oil, Oats and Honey, it produces a light lather that leaves skin feeling soft and cared for.

Shop online at odylique.co.uk

Have you tried any products from Odylique?

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Spring Beauty Picks: 3 Products To Try This Month

Need a Spring Beauty pick-me-up? Pop one of these products into your next online basket and try something new this month.

The Multipurpose Product That Can Be Used For Almost Everything: PHB Ethical Beauty Lavender Hero Gel* (150ml, £18, link)

PHB Ethical Beauty have been busy with a whole host of brand new releases and one that's caught my eye is this latest Lavender Hero Gel. Regular readers will know how much I love a good quality multi-purpose product and Hero Gel has SO many uses! This clever organic and natural gel moisturiser has a light texture that sinks in quickly and with active ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Lavender, Neem and Arnica, it's a soothing multi-tasking wonder. Use it to calm down any form of skin irritation including eczema and psoriasis flareups, as well as taking the sting and redness out of pesky insect bites. New mums can apply it on their baby's bottoms to soothe nappy rash, and makeup fans will love it as a smoothing face primer and oil-free moisturiser. You can also dab a little onto blemishes to help them heal faster, and you can slather it all over your body as an instant cooling hydrator for dry or sunburnt skin. 

It's not just for skincare purposes either though - Hero Gel lends itself to a multitude of haircare uses such as a treatment for irritated scalps, adding definition to curls, sealing split ends, taming flyaways and as a hydrating leave-in conditioner for dry and damaged hair. What a superstar!

The New Microbiome Friendly Toner: Gallinée Face Vinegar* (200ml, £23, link)

OK, so the name Face Vinegar doesn't exactly sound the most appealing, but stick with me for a minute because you'll want to add this 97.5% natural toner into your Spring skincare routine ASAP. Formulated by the French brand Gallinée who are famous for their pre and probiotic infused skincare, their Face Vinegar has been specially developed to help support your microbiome by purifying, soothing and repairing the skin's natural barrier. 

It contains Actibiome, a novel prebiotic that instantly calms stressed skin and a host of postbiotics which work together to boost the beneficial bacteria that live on your complexion. So where's the vinegar? Well, this actually comes from the Hibiscus Flower which is rich in Acetic Acid and AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) that has natural astringent properties so it's brilliant for getting rid of impurities, leaving the skin super smooth and looking clearer than before.

Gallinée's Face Vinegar is light and refreshing to use which makes it perfect for the warmer months ahead, and it's gentle enough for even sensitive skin (always patch test first though!).

The Most Soothing Natural Shampoo You'll Ever Try: Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo* (200ml, £12, link)

The arrival of Spring often brings with it the onset of many seasonal allergies and it's quite common for eczema and psoriasis flareups to also occur at this time of the year. As the body's inflammatory response system is linked throughout, it's no surprise that the skin might feel drier and itchier overall and that your scalp can feel particularly sore or irritated as well. 

Luckily, help is on hand with Odylique's award-winning Gentle Herb Shampoo. I always have a bottle of this in my bathroom and have used it for several years now - I honestly can't recommend it enough! Not only is it made from 100% natural ingredients (of which 70% are certified organic by the Soil Association), but this ultra-gentle, SLS-free shampoo features some of my favourite ingredients that work like magic to soothe irritated skin such as Aloe Vera juice, Coconut Oil, Nettle, Horsetail and Rosemary extracts. If you've been suffering with an irritated, dry and flaky scalp, please give this shampoo a go and I hope it works as well for you as it does for me.

What are your favourite Spring Beauty products?

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March Empties: Products I've Used Up

March has been a busy month, but here are my latest round of Empties! Most of these are much-loved favourites that many of you will have seen before, with one or two newbies.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser* 

I've lost count of how many of these iconic tubes I've gone through over the years, but here's another one! I always have this product in my skincare stash and mainly use it to remove my makeup / as a first cleanse in the evenings. It's thick, creamy and gets rid of every single trace of grime and makeup, including stubborn waterproof formulas. Repurchase? Already have.

Trevarno Organic Rose & Jojoba Soap* (link)

A few years ago, I changed over all of my hand soaps to proper solid soaps to cut down on unnecessary plastic waste, and Trevarno is one of my favourite organic soap brands. They do a range of different scents, and this Rose & Jojoba one smells so beautiful! Best of all, these soaps retain their shape and don't go mushy which is a testament to their overall higher quality, yet they're very affordable and last ages. Repurchase? Will do once I've used some other soaps up.

Odylique Coconut Candy Body Scrub* (link)

I'm a sucker for anything coconut scented and Odylique's Coconut Candy Scrub is a much-loved luxury fave of mine. Not only does it smell heavenly, but it works a treat at removing dull dead skin all over the body without being too harsh or abrasive, and it's a brilliant exfoliator to reach for before you use self-tanning products. Repurchase? On the treat list!

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads

I've used these mini sets of Glycolic Pads a few times in the past as I seem to have accumulated a bunch of them via various GWPs and beauty subscription boxes. I like them, but I don't love them as I prefer to use the PIXI Glow Tonic, though these minis do come in handy for travelling with. Repurchase? Not sure.

Polaar Hand Cream

Another product that came into my life via a beauty box is this Polaar Hand Cream. It's great for dry hands so came in useful during the Winter months, but I wasn't a fan of the scent sadly so I wouldn't pick it up again. Repurchase? No.

Tropic Lip Fudge Plumping Lip Conditioner* (reviewed here)

This was an amazing lip balm! Very nourishing, it was ideal to use before going to bed to seriously hydrate dry lips overnight, whilst also doubling up as a subtle lip plumper for daytime use too. This one was the original untinted version, and I have two other tinted balms from the same range that I'm currently working my way through. Repurchase? Yes.

Bodhi & Birch Flora Paradiso De-Stress Body & Massage Oil* (featured here)

If you're looking for a highly indulgent and luxurious body oil, you can't go wrong with anything from Bodhi & Birch who I've been a long time fan of for many years now. Their Flora Paradiso De-Stress Body & Massage Oil is such a pleasure to use (this is my third or fourth bottle) and it smells incredible with essential oils of Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Cedarwood. Repurchase? Another one that's on the treat list!

Madara Micellar Water* (link)

I don't use many micellar waters these days, but when I do, it's usually this one from Madara because it contains Hyaluronic Acid and doesn't dry out my skin like a lot of other micellar waters do. It's very gentle and best used to remove lighter makeup formulas rather than stubborn ones, so if you wear a lot of mineral makeup, you'll love it. Repurchase? Probably will.

What have you used up recently?

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February Empties / Products I've Used Up

My Empties game is still going strong, as I continue to de-clutter and make some better sense of my beauty stash. Here's what I've managed to finish up recently - mainly skincare and pampering goodies.

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May Empties: Products I've Used Up

It's my favourite time of the month when my blog feed erupts with everyone's empties posts!  Here are the products that I've used up recently, my thoughts on them and whether I will be repurchasing them or not.

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March Empties / Products I've Used Up

Another month has flown by, so it's time to clear out the old Empties box.  Here are the products that I managed to use up last month, my thoughts on them and what I'll be repurchasing in the future.

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Winter Hands Saviours - The Favourites Edit

If your hands are feeling very dry from the cold weather, then this is the blogpost for you. Here's my current stash of hydrating skin saviours that I highly recommend if you want to give your hands some serious TLC.

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November Empties / Products I've Used Up

Empties time!  Here are the products I've managed to finish up recently, my overall thoughts on them, and whether I'd repurchase any again or not.

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Tried & Tested: Odylique Silk Touch Cleanser & Organic Surge Super Fresh Body Wash review

Here are two new products that have been gracing my bathroom shelves recently - both are very summer friendly and ideal for this current heatwave we're having!

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The 7 Days to Smooth Summer Feet Challenge with Odylique

One of my favourite natural/eco brands, Odylique, recently asked me to take part in their '7 Days to Smooth Feet Challenge'.  As I'm one of those people who loves to live in flip flops and sandals the minute the weather gets warmer, I decided to take part and give my feet some much needed TLC. (There are no scary photos of my feet though - don't worry!)

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January Favourites

I don't know about you, but I for one am beyond happy that January is finally over and we're now a month closer to Spring (and hopefully some sunshine!).  Despite the persistent rain, grey skies and freezing cold winds, it was a surprisingly positive month for discovering some new beauty favourites.

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Skincare Review: Odylique Calming Rose Super Tonic, Superfruit Concentrate, Honey & Oat Cleansing Bar and Calendula Balm

A few weeks before Christmas, I received a very exciting email from one of the founders of English natural brand, Essential Care (who I've raved about before, particularly with respects to their amazing Coconut Candy Scrub, Gentle Herb Shampoo and their beautiful mineral Lipsticks).  The company are currently in the process of re-branding and have changed their name to Odylique.

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