March Empties

Hi Everyone,
This is a new type of post for me but I really enjoy reading about the products other people have finished. I think you can give a much more insightful review after getting to the end of something than you can when you’ve only used it once or twice.

Plus I find myself changing my mind sometimes and wanting to go back to when I’ve previously mentioned a product and say “Actually this isn’t as good as I’d hoped” or “This is so much better than I thought it was going to be”. This is the perfect post for that, so without further ado, the samples I’ve used up in March.

First up is my Audacious mascara from NARS. This was in my NARS limited edition Glossybox in November last year.

The first couple of times I used this mascara I liked it. I said in my review that it was great for making my lashes look longer and really coating every single one but unfortunately after just a few uses it started to get really clumpy.
I like to see definition in my lashes after using a mascara, if a product causes them to stick together it’s in the bin for me. It also doesn’t really contribute any volume to your lashes so if that’s one of your main concerns then it’s not the mascara for you.
I think the formulation was drying out which caused the problems and this was probably exacerbated by the small size of the sample but if you’re going to pay £21 for a full sized tube I would want to be sure it would last more than a few weeks.
Definitely wont repurchase.

My next empty is the Miracle Cleanser from Aurelia, which I only got at the start of the month in my limited edition Treat Yourself Glossybox.

The fact that it’s all gone already can attest to the fact that I loved it. That’s pretty much my review to be honest, I loved it.
The smell could be polarising I think; I really liked it and thought it smelled clean and fresh, it’s very herbal and could be perceived as being quite antiseptic-y. So it may not be for everyone but it left my skin feeling so soft and fresh with no residue as some cleansers are wont to do.
Plus the cloth it came with is my favourite one ever!
Repurchase? Yes, and I’ve found it here. Let me know if you’ve seen any better deals around.

So in keeping with the skincare theme, I also finished my tube of Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream this month. This fab little find was from my Cult Beauty (with Caroline Hirons) box way back in September last year.

I loved it then and I love it now. The reason it has taken me so long to finish was because I’ve had so many other samples coming in in the meantime. I’m a bit weird about my shelf of beauty bits and bobs; when I love a sample but only like some others I’ll choose to use up all the others so my favourites can take pride of place on the shelf for longer.
The texture of this is slightly odd, it’s almost whipped instead of the usual cream consistency but it sinks straight into my skin and feels very moisturising without any greasiness. So it’s perfect for a morning moisturiser under your makeup as you don’t have to worry about it leaving you all shiny or feeling like your makeup might slide off your face. (Not just me right?)
It’s another one where the smell could be a bit off-putting to some (it makes me think of the dentist for some reason) I think this may be due to the arnica flower extract but don’t quote me on that.
Repurchase? Yes and I’ve found it here.

Another sample from the Cult beauty box is the REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum.

I wasn’t really a fan of this one. In my original review I said it didn’t seem to be doing much although it is a preventative product more than anything else. My real issue though is that it’s so oily. The official advice is to apply morning and/or night but there is no way I could put this on my skin in the morning. It just sits there leaving me all shiny and greasy. I used it up by applying at night only and then not everyday, I alternated with an acid cream.
It is also fragrance free I think (or I assume so because I can’t imagine anyone choosing the smell it has) which is fine and good but not when the oils you’ve used have a very unpleasant smell of their own.
All in all I wasn’t a fan of this one and definitely wont be repurchasing.

Another REN sample in the picture up there is the V-cense Youth Vitality Day cream.

This came in a Look Fantastic beauty box which I never reviewed as I had such a bad experience with them and their customer service that I cancelled my subscription straight away. That’s another story though.
This is a daytime moisturiser that supposedly fights free radicals, smooths wrinkles and prevents premature aging. Sounds like a wonder product and I think it performs well, basically it does what it says on the tin, but it never gave me that wow factor. It takes a bit longer than some to sink in but doesn’t leave you feeling sticky or greasy.

Would I repurchase? Probably not.
I didn’t dislike it but I have found other moisturisers that I like much more. You can find it at AllBeauty.com for a slightly cheaper £25.60 rather than the full £32 if you want to give it a go.

Okay serums. This month I finished the Madara Time Miracle, Cellular Repair.

This arrived in my January Glossybox and I was on the fence about it then. Without going into rant mode, it was very hyped up that it was an organic product which I know doesn’t often mean much when it comes to makeup and skincare as regulations are pretty non-existent.
I’ve been perusing their website and whilst it’s all a bit hippy dippy it does seem as though they stick to voluntary strict organic standards. They are certified by ECOCERT and all packaging is recyclable.
As for the product itself, it was nice. It smelled gorgeous and I thought it left my skin with a lovely extra shot of moisture in the mornings and evenings. A little went quite a long way as I have been using it morning and night since January and it’s only just run out and that was from a sample half the size of the full packaging.
So I am actually quite impressed with Madara. Granted their use of statistics is a bit sloppy with sample sizes of 30 women, but the product itself seems to be of a really good quality. Will I repurchase? Probably not.
But not because there’s anything wrong with it, I just prefer other serums I’ve tried before.

My last sample is a little one. When I was in House of Fraser a long time ago I saw they were doing a free 7 day trial of Teint Touche Éclat Foundation from YSL.

They matched the colour for me and sent me away with a little pot. This lasted a lot longer than 7 days, I used it on an off for months. The coverage was really good and I liked it as it was a slightly better match for my pale winter skin than the Benefit oxygen wow that I had at home.
I was keen to buy some more, although in searching I found that the formulation has apparently been changed as of February 2016 and the same colour will now come up darker. (Via Really Ree) So I think I need to take the time to head back into a shop for a colour match again, just in case. Especially as it retails for a whopping £32.50!

Would I purchase again? Yes, but I need to double check the new formulation.

And that’s it for the March empties. I’ve moved on to a whole host of different products so keep your eyes peeled for a similar post in April!

Until next time,