October Empties!

Hi, everyone! Happy November! As time marches on, we've found ourselves at at another Empties post. Another chance to review my spent-up products before they hit the bin! I finished up quite a bit throughout October, from the largest bottles of conditioner to the tiniest sample sachets. Definitely a mix of hits and misses, which hopefully keeps things interesting! 

Buxom Plumping Lip Polish in Brandi
These glosses are great! Not too opaque, not too sheer, good lasting power, and a satisfying tingle. Brandi is a pretty cool-toned burgundy that's totally Fall appropriate. This expired before I could finish it, but I got quite a lot of use out of it!
Repurchase? I'm definitely curious to try other shades from this range!

Shu Uemura red:juvenus Intense Vitalizing Concentrate (mini)
This was part of a skin care set I got last Christmas. The most potent product from the range, this serum smelled fresh and fruity and really made the skin look instantly plump and radiant. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure this broke me out. Used the last little bit as an eye serum, though, which did work nicely!
Repurchase? No, but still a lovely serum.

Shu Uemura red:juvenus Vitalizing Retexturizing Cream
I use this as a night cream when my skin needs a bit of extra hydration over top of my oil or serum. It's medium weight (not to runny or heavy) and always leaves my skin looking dewy by morning. Has never broken me out and is packed full of antioxidants.
Repurchase? Already have!

The Body Shop Honeymania Cream Body Scrub
This was quite the beautiful scrub! I love the floral, herbal smell of this range and the texture of this (a dense, scrubby paste) was perfect for a thorough exfoliation. Also left skin lightly moisturized without any hint of greasiness.
Repurchase? Not immediately (have some other fab scrubs to get to), but maybe down the line!

My Beauty Diary Broccoli Sheet Mask
I featured these masks in a previous post and am gradually making my way through the package. Don't want to use them up too quickly, cus they're lovely! With a refreshing, light scent, these leave skin looking glowy and feeling totally hydrated. They don't irritate my sensitive skin either!
Repurchase? I'll probably try other varieties from the brand first, but I'd consider it!

Thayers Rose Petal and Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner
One of my favourite toners of all time! Thayers is fabulous for offering several toners that are alcohol-free and packed with aloe and witch hazel. My oily, sensitive skin loves the formula! This version smells of fresh roses and is extra soothing. A pleasure to use!
Repurchase? Heck yes!

Red Flower Indian Jasmine Purifying Body Wash
This has a lovely spicy scent and is packed full of good for you ingredients. Unfortunately, aside from the great fragrance, I didn't love it. It took quite a bit of product to generate any lather, so I ended up going through the bottle quickly. Since this isn't a cheap product, that was a bit of a shame!
Repurchase? No, though curious to try other options from the brand.

Shu Uemura Whitefficient Clear Brightening Gentle Cleansing Oil
Like all of the Shu cleansing oils I've tried, this does an excellent job at removing all traces of makeup without leaving an oily residue or breaking me out. This formula promises brightening benefits and bears a higher price tag as a result. Unfortunately, I didn't see any exceptional results that warranted the extra cost. I'll stick with the original (yellow) formula!
Repurchase? No.

TRESemme Naturals Radiant Volume Conditioner
This was a very nice budget buy. The fresh, fruity scent, a rich, but not heavy formula, and a lack of silicones were all much appreciated, but there was nothing exceptional about this that would make me run out to buy it again. I was actually pretty happy to finally finish it off!
Repurchase? No.

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream (sample)
I have the eye cream from this range and really like it, so was happy to receive a sample of its day cream counterpart. Didn't use it long enough to determine any anti-aging effects, but I quite liked the texture (rich, but not greasy) and it didn't irritate or break me out. Not bad, Kiehl's!
Repurchase? Maybe, if my skin is in need of a heavier day cream this winter.

Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream (sample)
This was one lovely moisturizer! It's aimed at combination/oily skin and fits the bill perfectly. It feels amazingly rich, yet sinks into skin nearly instantly. Plus, it kept me matte all day long and has a delicious, refreshing citrus scent to boot!
Repurchase? Maybe! This would be a perfect daytime moisturizer for summertime.

Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque (sample)
This mask has been much hyped, so I was eager to give it a go! I was pleased with many aspects, including the refreshing feel on my skin, its true deep cleansing properties, and the fact that it didn't leave my skin feeling parched. That said, I think there's quite a bit of alcohol in this, which left my complexion slightly angry. Too bad!
Repurchase? No.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner (samples)
I generally adore Bumble and Bumble products, but these were a let down. They didn't leave hair feeling particularly clean or hydrated, nor were my tresses noticeably thicker or more voluminous afterwards. Can't win 'em all!
Repurchase? No.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (sample)
I'd sampled this in the past, and wasn't super impressed. Was convinced it had broken me out! Despite this, I accepted another mini vial of this more recently and my impression really changed. This felt really soothing on the skin and my complexion definitely looked more bright and even in the morning. The scent is beautiful too!
Repurchase? Maybe, though I don't have a space for it in my skin care arsenal at the moment. Pretty loyal to my Pai Rosehip Oil at night!


Phewf, that was quite the assortment! I'm happy to have used up so many things, sampling some new goodies and solidifying some firm favourites in the process. 

Have you tried any of the goodies I featured this month? Anything tempting you? What did you finish up in October?

Thanks for dropping by! xo