June Empties!

Goodbye June and hello hot sweaty July!  I went out for the day on Friday and it was a whopping 45 degrees!  I never understand why people come to Dubai during the hot summer months, to me its literally torture!

Here are my empties for June.......

The skincare

Rodial Glamtox cleansing balm, Alpha H Liquid Gold, Alpha H Essential Hydration Cream

Rodial Glamtox cleansing balm

Cleansing balms are all the rage at the moment but you don't hear a lot of noise about this one from Rodial.  But you should!  I got these two deluxe sample sizes from the recent goody bag offer from Space NK and so have been using the Glamtox balm for the last month or so.

I really like it.  If you can't use cleansing balms that contain shea or beeswax or cocoa butter then have a look at this one because it doesn't contain any of those ingredients which can cause breakouts on some people.

It took me ages to find the ingredients for this balm though (tut tut Rodial), I finally found them on a random website and here they are in full.

Rodial cleansing balm ingredients

There's nothing I didn't like about this balm, it's very emollient so you can get a nice massage whilst cleansing.  It can be used to remove eye make up and doesn't sting your eyes.  It smells nice.  It doesn't have that 'sticky' texture the Emma Hardie has so I didn't feel like I had to wash it off with a flannel.  No breakouts whilst I was using it and it's not drying.

It is pricy though-£48 for 100ml making it one of the most expensive cleansing balms out there.  If you can tolerate shea butter, the Ren No 1 Purity Cleansing Balm is a great dupe for half the price in terms of texture but is not as friendly on the eyes.

Would I repurchase?  These are sample sizes but I did pick up the full size one from Space NK when I was in London

What have I replaced it with?  Currently using the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

Alpha H Liquid Gold

Holy holy grail item for me, I can't imagine ever being without it now-I won't repeat myself, check out the amazing results I had with this product here.  If you are struggling with your skin, especially with acne I highly recommend you check this product out.  I bought mine from Cult Beauty.

Would I repurchase?  100%  Already got the supersize version!

What have I replaced this with?  Another Liquid Gold

Alpha H Essential Hydration Cream

As much as I LOVE the Liquid Gold I'm yet to discover another amazing product from the Alpha H range.  This daily moisturisor does not contain any AHA's and is a really thick cream, yet doesn't feel that moisturising which I find quite bizarre.  It does contain Beeswax (listed as cera alba) which I found strange as beeswax causes spots in some people yet the Liquid Gold sorted my acne right out.  It dries very quickly and leaves a matte finish to the skin.

Would I repurchase?  No

What have I replaced it with?  Elemental Herbology Moisture Milk

The body products

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil and Bath and Body Works Black Raspberry Vanilla body lotion

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment

This is Clarins number 1 selling oil and is designed as a firming and toning oil.  It contains rosemary, geranium and mint.  It smells very herbal and I used a small amount mixed with whatever body lotion I am using massaged into my stomach, upper arms and thighs.  A little goes a long way.  It's great for stretch marks and general firming, I could see an actual difference.   It's a splurge at £38 but it did last me a long time even with regular usage.  The only downside for me is that it doesn't come with a pump so it's easy to pour out too much product which isn't ideal for an expensive product.

Would I repurchase?  Yes

What have I replaced it with?  The L'Occitane dry body oil

Bath and Body Works Black Raspberry Vanilla body lotion

Like rubbing black cherry yoghurt all over your body!  Seriously this is a really light lotion that has the texture of yoghurt and smells just like black cherry.  Delicious and perfect for mornings.

Would I repurchase?  Yes

What have I replaced it with?  The BABW Japanese Cherry Blossom body cream (which when combined with the L'Occitane dry body oil is like cherry bakewell tart!)

The Make-Up

Shu Uemura lipstick in BG949, Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, Laura Mercier Soft Focus Pressed Powder

Shu Uemura lipstick in BG949

It's not often I get through a lipstick but this is my second one of this shade.  For me it is the perfect neutral for day.  But it's now discontinued.......

Would I repurchase?  Well I can't but Mac Creme in Your Coffee or Twig are fairly similar

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

I'm not known for being much of a drugstore girl but after reading so much about this foundation I had to pick one up in the UK in March.  I picked up the lightest shade, it's slightly yellow on me but if I mix a tiny bit of bronzing gel into it it's a good match.

I don't think I need to say too much about it as there are so many reviews out there but I agree with most of them that this is a low to medium coverage foundation with a very dewy finish.  I actually prefer a more matte look for work so this became my weekend foundation.  It's easy to apply with fingers or brush and a good option for young skin.

Would I repurchase?  Probably not

What have I replaced it with?  The Lancome Teint Idole 24h

Laura Mercier Soft Focus Pressed Setting Powder

Recently featured in my Disappointing Products post, I really did not like this powder!  I thought it might be like the Nars Light Relecting Pressed Setting Powder but the Nars version is in a different league entirely.

Would I repurchase?  Definitely not

What have I replaced it with?  The Mac Prep and Prime Translucent Setting powder

The removers

Superdrug cotton wool pads, Garnier 2 in 1 eye make up remover and Cutex Moisture Guard nail polish remover

Superdrug Cotton Wool Pads

I know featuring cotton wool pads is a bit strange but I absolutely love these!  When I stayed with my best friend Danielle in early May I ran out of cotton wool pads on the last day so I asked Dani if she had some I could have and she gave me about 10 of these and I threw them in my washbag.  On the flight home I used them and I was like 'wow these are amazing!'  They were firmer than normal cotton wool pads and denser, making make up removal a doddle.  I was absolutely convinced they were from some posho brand, I wouldn't have been surprised if they were from Harrods knowing Danielle!

When I went back to London two weeks later I said to Dani 'random question but do you remember those cotton wool pads you gave me, where were they from?'  I nearly fell on the floor when she said Superdrug!  And they were like 2 for £2.  I wish I had gotten more, I love them!

Would I repurchase?  I wish I could!

What have I replaced them with?  My normal cotton wool pads from the local supermarket

Garnier Soothing 2 in 1 make up remover

Love this bi-phase eye make up remover, I buy it in bulk from the UK.  I've posted several times about this but it's fantastic for removing eye make up and is literally one of my holy grail products.

Would I repurchase? Yes!

What have I replaced them with?  Another one of the same

Cutex Moisture Guard nail polish remover

Liked this but didn't love it-I much prefer those pots you stick your finger in and swizzle around but nail polish remover is always handy to have for small corrections using a cotton bud.
This is cheap and efficient and contains Vitamin B5 to strengthen nails

Would I repurchase?  Probably yes

What have I replaced it with?  Currently using another bottle of the same

The randoms

L'Occitane Candied Fruit candle and Dr Bronners Magic Soap

L'Occitane candied fruit candle

I bought this candle at Xmas but forgot I had it and found it in the back of a drawer earlier this month!  It's sweet but not overly so and who doesn't like the room to smell Xmassy??

Would I repurchase?  Yes

What have I replaced it with?  Currently burning the Bath and Body Works New York Apple candle

Dr Bronners Magic Soap

Finally got my hands on this from Selfridges back in May and have been using it to clean my make up brushes.  I found it to be really efficient at cleaning my brushes EXCEPT for the cream haired brushes from Mac (like the 217 and 239 and the contoured cheek brush) which I found dried really fluffy!  Bizarre I know but they are better cleaned with baby shampoo.

Would I repurchase?  Yes

What have I replaced it with?  Another Dr Bronners

That's all my June empties, I love reading empties posts so leave me a link to yours below if you have done one for June!