September was a weird month.  I was finishing my PhD and hardly left the house, and really let selfcare slide.  However, I did end up finishing a fair few products with the help of Tim!

Last month we finished twenty two bottles, jars, and packages of all natural goodness, and while most were a home run, there were a few that just didn't live up to my expectations or ingredient criteria.  Also, a handful need a packaging overhaul in my opinion!  Just because the inside is stunning doesn't mean the outside can be lacking -- right??

Let's jump into it though, as I'm sure you are all here for the empties haul!



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* This post contains affiliate links
some of these items have been gifted
No matter how I have received a product, whether it has been purchased with my own money, gifted by a brand, been subsidized by a brand, won, gifted by friends/family, or purchased with a gift voucher, my approach is always the same -- honesty, integrity, and highlighting both the good and the bad.  You can find more information on Disclosures and Privacy here.


Tisserand Muscle Ease Bath Oil (100ml)
Enjoyed?: yes!
Positives: totally dissipates under running water, non-greasy, soothes muscles, helps relieve tension, smells lovely (reminds me of one of my fav body oils, Active from Inner Senses), affordable
Negatives: plastic bottle
Buy again?: possibly as it is lovely - just wish it was not in plastic

S5 Vitality Mask (50ml)
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: smells fab (like pineapple), pretty gentle, lightweight, non-drying
Negatives: plastic bottle
Buy again?: no longer available

Inlight Beauty Face Oil (2ml)
Enjoyed?: mostly
Positives: lovely aroma (complex, warming), not overly rich, moisturizing
Negatives: single use plastic- #SkipTheSachet please!, also very hard to apply a facial oil from a packet...
Buy again?: no idea - it's so hard to get a good feel for a product like this when it is in a sachet... would love to try a proper bottle and see how I get on

Sukin Nourishing Conditioner (50ml)
Enjoyed?: Tim used this
Positives: non-greasy, affordable
Negatives: plastic bottle, phenoxyethonal, not the most nourishing
Buy again?: no, as we like to share products and I couldn't use this due to phenoxyethonal -- also, I think that this has been reformulated into the "Hydrating Conditioner" which now contains coconut oil too so a big no for me sadly
Further Reviews

Cougar Zest Up Your Life Sugar Scrub (100g)
Enjoyed?: Tim used this
Positives: smells good, very scrubby, simple ingredient list, no coconut oil (YAY)
Negatives: too harsh for my skin (though great for Tim!), plastic jar
Buy again?: no

100% Pure Coconut Hand Buttercream (~3ml)
Enjoyed?:
Positives: smells delicious (like a coconut cream pie!), didn't irritate my skin or leave my hands spotty, very nourishing, not slick at all, absorbs great
Negatives: none I could tell from this sample
Buy again?: definitely will consider it when I need a new hand cream

Ecococo Coconut Lime Body Scrub (~3ml)
Enjoyed?: mostly
Positives: smells fab (again, like coconut cream pie - YUM!), surprisingly gentle scrub
Negatives: don't get much lime in the scent, could only use on legs as the coconut oil broke me out
Buy again?: sadly no


Okoko Cosmetiques Lip Serum (~4.5g)
Enjoyed: yes!!
Positives: gorgeous colour and smell, light but so restorative, great as a base, helps smooth out lipstick when applied first, best lip serum I've tried, lasts ages
Negative: I need to save up for another one (will be my self-treat for Christmas!)
Buy Again: 100% yes
Further Reviews

Okoko Cosmetiques Gel-to-milk Mask (50ml)
Enjoyed: yes!!
Positives: beautiful smell (Tim says it's like vanilla rootbeer haha), intensively nourishing but never breaks me out, multi-tasking (oil cleanse or a moisture mask), lasts ages, helps keep skin clear and glowing
Negative: again, I have to save up!
Buy Again: as soon as there is a gap in my cleanse/mask shelf, I need this back in my life
Further Reviews - see above

Balm Balm Spearmint EDP (33ml)
Enjoyed?: yes!!
Positives: everything - it smells incredible (so minty fresh with that slightly sweet zing), lasts a fair time, doesn't irritate my allergies, lasted ages, and the ingredients are great
Negative: they discontinued this one (sobs)
Buy Again?: I would buy 1082593259 bottles if they still made it
Further Reviews

Balm Balm Bath Oils (5ml x3)
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: all three smell so lovely (very fragrant - only need a small amount to fill the room!), not super oily on skin but moisturizing still, lovely glass bottles
Negative: no longer sold
Buy Again?: I totally would if I could

Earthwise Beauty Yasuni Face Balm (~4.5g)
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: surprisingly lightweight yet nourishing, non clogging, interesting aroma (tart yet grounding), not heavy on the skin, healing
Negative: none that I could tell from this sample
Buy Again?: I just might!

Earthwise Beauty Tigress Face Balm (~4.5g)
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: still surprisingly light on the skin, gorgeous aroma (round, and almost nutty), had no breakouts the whole time I was using this, absorbs well, nourishing
Negative: none I could tell from this sample
Buy Again?: I would love to - this is my favourite of the two I think

Divine & Handmade Bath Salts (120g)
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: fab glass bottle, no scent (perfect for blending with other oils/bubbles), moisturizing
Negative: none!
Buy Again?: yes
Further Reviews

Magical Tree Flower Power Body Butter (60ml)
Enjoyed?: yes!
Positives: so nourishing but not heavy or greasy, smells fab (slightly sweet and floral), absorbs well, lasts ages, plastic free
Negative: none!
Buy Again?: this is my second mini jar actually - will definitely get another in the future
Further Reviews

Friendly Shaving Bar in Orange & Lavender (95g)
Enjoyed?: Tim used this
Positives: plastic free, lasts ages, affordable, smells lovely, lathers great but is still gentle and non-drying on the skin
Negative: none
Buy Again?: yes!
Further Reviews

Dafna's Moisture + Light Version (30ml)
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: lightweight, absorbs fully, soothing, lovely glass bottle, gentle
Negative: this summer it didn't seem to be quite enough for me - maybe the humidity and additional sun exposure while in the US?
Buy Again?: this is my second bottle - perhaps a third in the future?
Further Reviews

Herbivore Detox Bath Salts (227g)
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: very potent smell, fab for allergies/colds/headaches, refreshing and rejuvenating, lasted ages
Negative: the smell took some getting used to but it grew on me
Buy Again?: yes
Further Reviews
Savings: grab £10 off your first Space.NK purchase here

Inner Senses Bloom Body Oil (~10ml)
Enjoyed?: yes!
Positives: nourishes skin, non-greasy, fully absorbs, beautiful aroma (delicate, slightly sweet and floral), gentle, soothing for both skin and senses
Negative: none
Buy Again?: oh yes, as soon as I have room on my body product shelf
Further Reviews
Savings: get a free gift with purchase by using code BRYANNA at checkout

Pure Purpose Hemp Masque (60ml)
Enjoyed?: yes!
Positives: non-drying, nourishes and hydrates, smells lovely (a bit zesty, grounding and very uplifting), softens skin, didn't break me out, fun colour, glides on easily
Negative: none
Buy Again?: yes I will need to get another one as it is lovely
Further Reviews



And those are all my empties from September!  As you can see, many of them are products that help ease tension or soothe nerves, and many have grounding or uplifting scents -- these were so so necessary during the final bit of my PhD.  It was a tough time, and these helped keep me feeling human.

Overall, last month was primarily products we had been working on for a long time.  I didn't pamper myself quite as much as usual, so it will be interesting to see how October compares.  Will there be fewer empties because I didn't use much previously, or will there be an explosion because I'm making up for lost time??  Only time will tell I guess!

I was also happy to see the plastic packaged products has been cut down a lot.  And only one single use sachet!  I really hope that brands (especially eco-minded ones) begin to #SkipTheSachet and opt for more sustainable packaging for their samples.  Would make a real difference, plus make me so so happy!  What about you?

Of course I would love to hear what you finished in September too.  Any favourites or must tries?  Or did you test anything in my empties before?? Let me know! xx