The Repurchases

Being an expat has it's upsides (sun, sea and sand at the weekend) and it's downsides (miss my family and can't get certain make up in Dubai) so when I was home recently there were a stash of repurchases I made of things I have used up, loved and needed back in my life.

The first was the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm.  I have a love-hate relationship with it, it's a bit melty for my liking but it's so effective at removing make-up and skin feels baby soft afterwards.  I thought it was breaking me out at first but I persevered and my skin really started to like it.  I ordered mine online from Feel Unique.

Next up was another cleansing balm-the No 1 Purity Cleansing Balm from Ren.  I really like this balm, it's slightly thicker than the Emma Hardie but the packaging is much more travel friendly and I take it away on my frequent trips to Egypt for work.  I got mine from Space NK along with the rest of this massive haul.  It's also one of the cheaper high end cleansing balms out there if you want to dip your toe in the water of luxury cleansers.  It retails for £23 whereas the Emma Hardie retails for £34.

From Beauty Bay I ordered 2 bottles of the Opi Rapidry spray.  This spray literally dries your nail polish in an instant-which is perfect for people like me who wait until bedtime to paint their nails and don't wait to wait around for the polish to dry.  You spritz it over your nails 45 seconds after your last coat and ta-da, dry nails in seconds.

Part of my Space NK haul was another Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask.  I reviewed this mask here in my July empties and said I would definitely repurchase this glow giving, marmalade like mask-it's such a pleasure to use.

In my July empties I also raved about Serozinc.  Still unavailable in the UK, I purchase mine from the french online pharmacy Le Guide Sante.  I ordered 3 more from them and shipping is about £5 but is really fast and the toner itself is only about £5 (some ebayers are selling it for more than double).  If you have been living under a rock and haven't seen people raving about Serozinc, it's a zinc sulphate, anti bacterial toner and I have been misting it on my face after my exfoliating toner morning and night.  Amazing stuff.

Lastly I love these wide oval cleansing pads from Superdrug.  Strictly speaking I didn't repurchase them, my best friend Danielle bought them for me and now my mum knows I love them and bought me another 4 packets of them when they came to Dubai a couple of weeks ago!

What things do you repurchase again and again?

July empties part 1-Skincare

Au revoir July!  You have literally been THE dullest month so far this year-no business travel due to the situation in Egypt currently, temperatures as hot as an oven and Ramadan to boot.  I have serious cabin fever!!  I'm not Muslim so not fasting but lots of people in my office are so out of respect we don't eat or drink on the floor during office hours.

But I did use up plenty so lets get cracked on.

The cleansers

I finished up both my morning and evening cleansers this month and all deserve a mini review!

Emma Hardie amazing face Moringa cleansing balm

I was so on the fence about this cleanser at first and worried it was breaking me out-but after persisting with it for a week I actually grew to like it and didn't suffer any breakouts.

This balm has been reviewed again and again on beauty blogs so I won't go into the ingredients or how to use but here are my two pennies worth.

It has a very low meting point so definitely don't leave in a warm place-the low melting point makes it super super easy to spread over your face though.  Sometimes this felt lovely but sometimes I felt like I was rubbing butter over my face!  I did find it really really effective at removing every scrap of make up though-even eye make up.  It smells lovely and luxurious but I do recommend removing it with a damp flannel-otherwise I felt like I had residue on my face which would no doubt lead to breakouts.

Would I repurchase?  I am pretty sure I would-I do think it's worth the hype

What have I replaced it with?  Elemis Pro Collogen cleansing balm

Ren Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk (deluxe sample size)

I used this for my second cleanse in the evening even though I didn't think a second cleanse after the Emma Hardie was necessary because it was so effective at removing make-up.

This cleansing milk is very thick and almost lumpy in consistency.  Designed for sensitive skin, I found it to be cooling and soothing on the skin, suitable for use round the eyes and easy to rinse off.  
I really like most Ren products but this didn't blow me away.  It's a good basic cleanser especially for those with sensitive skin.  It does contain Shea butter though so be careful if you suffer from sensitivities to Shea.

Would I repurchase?  Unlikely

What have I replaced it with?  Alpha H Triple Action cleanser

Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Cleanser

This was my morning cleanser and the 200ml bottle lasted for-ever.  I had been using this low foaming liquid gel cleanser since mid March and at the beginning of July still had a fifth left.  Unfortunately one morning in the shower the top just exploded ending it's 4 month reign of my morning shower.

The packaging isn't great I don't think-you need some muscles to squeeze the bottle to get the liquid-y gel out.  But as a cleanser it's quite nice-it's main ingredients are kiwi for gentle exfoliation, manuka honey for it's antibacterial properties and vinanza to reduce and balance oil production.  It is marketed towards normal, combination and oily skin types, promising to brighten your skin.  Not sure this was achieved but it was pleasant to use in the morning for hassle free cleansing.

Would I repurchase?  Maybe if it was repackaged.  It has made me more interested in Antipodes as a brand though

What have I replaced it with?  Elemis Melting Gel Cleanser

The toner

La Roche Posay-Serozinc

Loved this hydrating toner-you can read my review here.  Mum and dad are coming to visit at the end of September so I'll be ordering some to my mums for here to bring over for me!

Would I repurchase?  Definitely

What have I replaced it with?  Elemis soothing apricot toner

The eye cream

Origins Ginzing

This is a sample size as you can see but I had 3 of them making a total of 15ml which is about the size of a full size one anyway!  I have also had in the past the full size version.

To me this is the perfect morning eye cream for summer-it's a light cream consistency and has an illuminating effect on the skin-think Mac strobe cream but for under your eyes.  It certainly brightens in my opinion.  It also claims to de-puff but I don't really suffer from puffiness so can't comment on that claim.  It contains caffeine from coffee beans, magnolia extract and ginzing.  It makes a good base for concealer as the area is smoothed and hydrated after applying.  I've recently bought the moisturiser too and am looking forward to using that over the summer.  The full size version retails for £21.

I would recommend this as an eye cream for younger skin-it's not heavy and therefore isn't massively hydrating or moisturising but I do like it as a morning pick me up in the summer months when I like to use lighter products. 

Would I repurchase?  Yes

What have I replaced it with?  Clinique All About Eyes

The face mask

Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

Definitely as favourite for me.  Another well blogged about product, this mask is designed to renew and revitalise your complexion, improve skin tone and reduce fine lines.

I would use this mask as a mid week pick me up-I agree with other bloggers that it is a bit like smearing marmalade on your face!  It's a very sticky consistency and it does not set on the skin-you just wash it off after 10 minutes but it's much easier to remove using a damp flannel.  Some bloggers have stated their skin tingled but I didn't find mine did at all-however I use glycolic acid on my skin so maybe it is used to it.  It has a lovely citrusy smell and I found my skin to be super smooth and plumped after it was removed.  I also found it seemed to knock any brewing spots on the head as well.

Would I repurchase?  Definitely

What have I replaced it with?  Nothing yet but I will be looking for a hydrating/radiance/plumping mask so any suggestions welcome!

The make up removers

Simple Eye Make Up remover and Garnier Soothing 2 in 1 makeup remover

Holy Grail.

Would I repurchase?  Yes!

What have I replaced it with?  Am actually using up a bottle of Bioderma to remove eye make up residue otherwise I will never get rid of it!

The oil

L'Occitane Shower Oil

I actually featured this in my Disappointing Products post but it was an expensive product I wanted to use up.  I found the most effective way to use it was as a shaving oil, it did leave the skin lovely and soft.

Would I repurchase?  No, this is one product I think is definitely not worth the hype

The lip balm

Carmex lip balm

A product I seem to have had for ages and ages.  It's very effective but I am not a fan of the cherry menthol smell or taste.  Very moisturising and non greasy though.

Would I repurchase?  No

What have I replaced it with?  Nivea SOS lip balm

There is a second part of my July empties as this one would have been super long if I didn't-in my 'part 2' is all the make up I finished up in July.  Here's the link to Part 2-Make Up

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