The Beauty Bits That I’ve Actually Used Up To The Very Last Pump…

Usually I start these posts or videos with some kind of proclamation that I ‘just don’t buy beauty products like I used to‘. However, I’m currently awaiting the arrival of a three-figure Content Beauty order because I’ve just ran out of my May Lindstrom Youth Dew, which is coincidentally one of the most expensive skincare products I’ve ever used, but one of the best. DAMN. So it’s fair to say that I still break the budget when it comes to beauty from time to time, I’m just more likely to repurchase my favourites and actually work through products, rather than mindlessly hauling a tonne of stuff that I don’t really need or have a use for. Gone are the days of buying items willy nilly. Instead I have more of a plan and often an informed list that I’ve created thanks to recommendations from you lot or other beauty peeps that I follow. But less about hauling and more about what I’ve used up because that’s what we’re chatting about today. Say hello to my empties drawer which was getting pretty full. There were the usual suspects in there that I’ve spared you (about 34 Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoos and 46 Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Removers), so here are mini reviews of the (hopefully!) non-boring bits and the answer to that all important question – ‘Would I buy it again?’…

Kiehl’s Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence. I FOUND IT! The lovely guys at Kiehl’s sent me a bottle, but I’d actually purchased the second to last one from the Brighton store already. So I guess that answers the question of whether I’d repurchase it or not. Now I have two back-ups ready to roll and I couldn’t be more chuffed about it. I feel like I’ve spoken about this product about 76 times already in various different favourites and empties videos, but basically it’s a hydrating water-type product that you slap on after cleansing and it preps your skin for whatever you put on next, whilst dousing it in a layer of dewiness. It’s golden, I love it and I will continue to buy bottle after bottle all the while my skin drinks it up.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. This is a classic. I find that the formula often gets overlooked in my skincare stash for jazzier and newer ones on the market, but actually I quite like having a bottle of this hanging around for times when I just want to strip my routine back to basics and use products that I know my skin laps up. It’s hydrating, but never greasy and although I wouldn’t say that it leaves my skin completely glowing, it certainly leaves my complexion comfortable and content. I already have a repurchase of this hanging around in my drawers that I bought in duty free (get it from the airport because you can make such a good saving on it), so I’ll be fishing that out later tonight.

La Mer The Eye Concentrate. I don’t think I’ve ever purchased a product this expensive. EVER. I’d heard a couple of good things about it through the grapevine and wanted to see what all the hype was about for myself. Now whilst it’s a nice cream, it’s definitely not one that’s worth a large proportion of your rent. In fact I’m not sure that there’s any beauty product out there that is worth of that kind of price tag. Actually the May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon might be the one exception to that rule – DREAMIEST SKINCARE PRODUCT EVER. I didn’t notice a huge difference to my under eye area in the six months that I used it and I just feel like there are better ones out there for a mere fraction of the cost. So no hype from me and no repurchase I’m afraid.

Charlotte Tilbury Overnight Bronze & Glow Mask. Being the Casper like I am, I enjoy a spot of facial faux tanning from time to time. One, because I just feel like it makes me look healthier and means that I get to use less makeup in general and two, because I find that it helps to even out my redness in a weird way. So every couple of months I use one of these types of products up. I actually enjoyed this one and found that it gave a good boost of hydration as the final step in my skincare routine (I’d skip an oil or moisturiser and layer this over a serum or essence instead). However, it’s always my Clarins Facial Tanning Lotion that I come back to because there’s something about the colour in the formula that just feels best suited to my pinky undertones. There won’t be a repurchase of this for me.

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser in Nude. I’m not sure I want to say how long I’ve had this particular bottle of this cult favourite in my stash, but let’s just say that it dates back to my VDM days. It might have been past it’s best by date, but it still coated my complexion with a light veil of dewy coverage that I’ve always found to be best applied with my fingers just fiiiiine. A repurchase happened almost immediately after this one ran out because it’s such a great product to keep in your bathroom cabinet, or wherever you complete your skincare routine, to apply immediately after you’re done to lean into a great no makeup day when paired with a light layer of mascara, brushed brows and a lip balm.

Glossier Stretch Concealer in Light. I mean, do I really need to go there? I didn’t even have to repurchase it because I already had a back-up ready to go. THAT’S how much I love this stuff. It took me 18 months to get to the bottom of a tub with very little use of any other concealers, because the more I use it, the more I realise how dry and flakey everything else can look under the eye – screw the coverage! Actually I’m over-exaggerating and the NARS Soft Matte Concealer does do a good job of laying decent pigment and not looking like sandpaper under my eyes. Back to the Glossier though and I’ve actually taken to using it like a tinted moisturiser recently. I dip a soft synthetic brush in the pot and tap it all over the skin for a super quick, super glowy and complexion evening out move.

YSL The Shock Waterproof Mascara. I feel like I’ve had a bit of a mascara journey recently as I just couldn’t find the perfect formula. Some where too claggy, others too smudgy, previous formulas I’ve used and loved now looked complete cack on me, but actually this one ended up hitting the sweet spot – eventually. When I first got it I wasn’t crazy about it but actually as it dried up a little it gave me curl, separation and just the right amount of volume. It didn’t move, didn’t take an army to remove and I’d definitely repurchase it again, although the Estée Lauder Little Black Primer is my lash flavour of the month right now (and perfect if you fancy yourself a ‘no mascara, mascara’ look).

NARS Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base. One tube of this lasts me a solid 12 months, if not longer and so it’s time for me to do my yearly repurchase. In fact, it’s on its way to me right now. Honestly no eyeshadow primer works quite like this one does. It doesn’t have a tint or colour and doesn’t leave my eye area feeling dry (except when the product is OLD and needs replacing because it’s well past its expiry). I really don’t think I’d bother wearing eyeshadow if it wasn’t for this product because on days when I forget to apply it, I end up blinking off my shadow in approximately 10 minutes. This stuff is magic.

Byredo Bibliothèque Candle. I have fond memories of this candle because I purchased it in Stockholm whilst I was visiting there two summers ago with Mark and upon our return journey, for which we shared a suitcase, this candle caused our bag to be severely overweight. Cut to a manic five minutes at departures with Mark tossing things in the bin whilst I cradled this ridiculously expensive candle like a baby. The branding? It’s STUNNING. The smell? It’s good. However, I’m not sure I love it so much to repurchase it again and if I was to spend that kind of money on a candle I’d rather put it towards my ol’ favourite Diptyque Figuier.

Photos by Lauren Shipley

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