I had the most wonderful photos of some skincare empties that I’d been hoarding, and after spending a morning doing a bit of a bulk photo shoot, I lost them – they’re not on my work or personal laptop, not on my phone and not on any spare USB’s that I have lying around.  So darned frustrating!

Either way, I had done that some time back.  By this week, I’d collected up a few more skincare empties, and deemed them enough to do a post on.

So here we go – the products that I’ve most recently finished up, with mini reviews on each.

CLEANERS

Ren Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser

I bought this on Runway Sale a while back, and haven’t seen it sold here in South Africa since.  Perhaps it’s been discontinued?

Either way, it was a lovely cleanser – it removed makeup and cleansed my skin well without leaving it dry and super tight.

Would I repurchase?  I preferred their No 1 Purity Cleansing Balm to be honest, so I’d probably buy that instead.  Similar product, but a much thicker balm.

TONER/FACIAL SPRAY

Avène Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water Spray

I’m not really one for toning – I much prefer facial sprays or spritzes.  With my skin being pretty badly dehydrated and quite sensitive, this has been my go to since I can remember.  I always make sure I’ve bought a back up before I finish my current can.  It soothes my skin, reduces redness, helps to hydrate it, plus if I apply a hydrating or hyaluronic acid based serum just before or after it, the hyaluronic acid has some extra moisture to grab onto and lock away in my skin.

Would I repurchase? Yes, always!  I stopped using this for a couple of months, trying to cut down on my steps in my skincare routine, and I really felt the difference.  This is now a staple that I just can’t be without.

SERUM

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair 

This is a much-hyped product – an overnight anti-ageing serum that is supposed to leave your skin smoother, more hydrated and stronger.

This is only a sample size, but it’s the second one that I’ve used, and to be honest I didn’t really see much difference in my skin.

This is supposedly supposed to do similar things to the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, yet I saw an actual difference after using THAT for only a couple of nights in a row, where I used this and the other sample until they were finished, every night.  That was around 2 and a half weeks, with no visible difference.

Perhaps it gives more of an improvement in older skins, but I would much rather put my money on the Kiehl’s MRC.  For my skin it’s personally just better.

Would I repurchase? I didn’t buy this one, but I don’t think I’ll be buying the full size any time soon.  Pity, as I usually love anything Estée Lauder.

Nivea Q10 Plus Anti Wrinkle Energy Serum

I’ve used this on and off since it launched, and while I’ve always loved it for hydrating my skin, I just don’t feel it’s quite enough anymore.  Don’t get me wrong, it helped, just NOT ENOUGH.

Would I repurchase? Possibly to use as a summer time serum?  But I’m really loving the Avène Hydrating Serum right now so I don’t know!

EYE CREAM

L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Eye Cream

I’ve said many times that I actually prefer this to a couple of more expensive eye creams.  But much like the Nivea serum, I just haven’t been feeling that it’s enough.  I think I need to just get my skin hydrated again, and then this will work like a bomb once more.  Right now I’m using a different eye cream, but I have a hydrating eye gel that I’m packing on underneath and that seems to be doing the trick.

Would I repurchase? At some stage yes.

Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream

My mom had originally bought this for herself, and passed it on after she didn’t find it did much.

I have to say, it was lovely to use – it sank into my skin nicely and makeup sat on top of it well.  It definitely did make my eyes look a little more awake too.  I only noticed how much it worked after the tube was finished and I hadn’t been using it for about a week.  Then I realised it was quite a goodie.

Would I repurchase?  As a day time eye cream, yes.  In an ideal world, where budget wasn’t a concern, I’d use this as my day eye cream, and the Kiehl’s MRC eye cream at night.  I’m on the search for a more budget-friendly pairing though.

MOISTURISER

Caudalie Anti-Wrinkle Protect Fluid SPF20

I did a bit of a beauty swop with one of my friends from makeup college, and she threw this one in the bag.  I’d heard a bit about Caudalie as a brand – their Beauty Elixir is a world wide favourite – but I’d never tried anything myself.

I used this tube right up, and then started searching for more online – it was that good.  UNTIL I saw the price of the full size.  Granted, this was a deluxe travel size, half the size of the normal, and it lasted me a good two months.  But at €32 for a full size, it’s quite far out of my budget to import it.

It was hydrating, it has a decent SPF in it and it smelled absolutely divine – it even smells expensive!  I couldn’t ever pin point exactly what it did to my skin, but while I was using it my skin was just better.  And when I finished it, my skin just wasn’t as glowy or fresh or soft.

Would I repurchase?  If I feel like a big splurge maybe!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

This must be my third tub of this moisturiser.  It hydrates effortlessly, and is like a deep long drink of cool water for my parched skin.

I love my other, higher end hydrating moisturisers, but for when my budget is a bit more strapped, this is my go to.

Would I repurchase?  I have already.

MASKS

Avène Soothing Moisture Mask

I’ve raved about this moisture mask several times – in a nutshell, it soothes irritated skin, reduces redness and hydrates your skin, leaving it unbelievably soft and smooth.

Would I repurchase?  Waiting for pay day to!

dr.dermal Total Rejuvenation Facial Silk Sheet Mask

To me, this is the ultimate in sheet masks.  I prefer this to the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask, that I reviewed HERE.

It is the most soothing and luxuriously hydrating sheet mask I’ve ever used.  Not only is your skin pumped with ingredients to reduce wrinkles and deeply hydrate, it’s strong enough to soothe skin that needs calming after intensive micro-needling and chemical peels.

I had one applied during my incredible dr.dermal treatment at the SKIN by dr.dermal clinic too, which I’ll be talking all about in an upcoming post.  Keep your eyes peeled – if you’re Durban based, you’ll want to know about what this skin clinic has to offer!

Would I repurchase?  I was lucky enough to win one, but I’m seriously considering getting a few to keep in stock for when my skin has a bit of a freak out due to dehydration.  Winter is taking it’s toll badly!

LIP TREATMENTS

Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm

This glass pot of honey-based lip balm has lasted me forever!  It had a set place on my bedside table, where I applied it every single night.  Sometimes if it was extra dry in winter, I’d slap some on during the day too.  Yet it lasted me over 2 years.

It’s super duper thick and nourishing, and has gotten me through 2 winters now without any chapping in sight.  I only had about a couple of uses left in it, when it fell onto my bedroom tiles and the jar smashed (it had been dropped so many times, yet only now did it give up).  The glass had broken off slightly in the jar too, so I didn’t really want to risk applying glass-filled lip balm.

Would I repurchase?  It was a sad day when I couldn’t use this, and I’ve noticed a difference in how dry my lips are so YES!  I’m toying with just ordering some, or trolling Truworths beauty sections, where it’s rumoured to be found.  Right now I’m using my Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil that the amazing Camilla from Jane Wonder spoiled me with, but I love that for keeping in my handbag and using during the day as it’s so lovely and glossy!

Swiitch Beauty #HydraPinkMask 

I bought this before Swiitch Beauty had uploaded the image to the site, and for some reason I thought it would be a pot of lip mask – like a super thick balm.

I was not unhappy when this arrived though!  I’d been looking for some fun lip masks to try out, and this is super cute!

It was super hydrating, and left my lips soft and very smooth.  They felt a little bit fuller too.

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I think so!  I’m waiting for Swiitch Beauty to bring back one of their sheet mask packs (namely the hydrating one) that I’d had on my wishlist, and I’ll probably order a couple of these with that.  I’ve seen all their other sheet mask packs on the site, yet this one is no longer there.. What’s happening here Swiitch Beauty?

Have you tried any of these goodies?  Let me know in the comments below!