Empties are back!

I took a little break from rounding up the products I was finishing due to the BSL Awards, but now that all the winners have been announced, I'm back to business as usual.

I'll admit I'm super frustrated with myself though, as initially this post was meant to include four months of empties.  I had saved up all the green goodies, taking photos at the end of each month so I could share them all with you lovelies.  And then I realized that I deleted those pictures when I formatted my phone - NOO.

So instead of four full months of empties, you'll be seeing February only.  I'm sorry!

I hope you enjoy the return of my empties reviews all the same, and let me know if you have any questions about any of these 34 (?) products that Tim and I finished using - always happy to help!




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* This post contains affiliate links and some products 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.



Poetics Skin Sensations Green Addiction Beauty Balm (50ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: great texture (smooth, creamy feel), doesn't clog pores, leaves skin refreshed, nourishing
Negatives: while I like the smell it is very strong
Buy again?: not at the moment

Lily Lolo Laid Bare Eye Palette (8g):
Enjoyed?: mostly yes
Positives: buildable shades, very neutral, pair well together, minimal fallout, good mix of shimmer/matte
Negatives: shades are not super pigmented, can be a little patchy if you don't build them up
Buy again?: no as I am reducing my makeup as I find I struggle to finish products like this, and also I just do not use the darker colours which is a waste for me

Lily Lolo Smoke & Mirrors Eye Palette (8g):
Enjoyed?: mostly yes
Positives: buildable shades, very neutral, pair well together, minimal fallout, good mix of shimmer/matte, the first three colours (Reflection, Looking Glass, and Illusion) are gorgeous
Negatives: shades are not super pigmented, can be a little patchy if you don't build them up
Buy again?: no as I am reducing my makeup as I find I struggle to finish products like this, and also I just do not use the darker colours which is a waste for me

Botanicals Therapeutic Foot Soak (175g):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: soothing for feet, lasts ages, smells refreshing and clarifying, perfect prep for pedicure, helps soften skin and eases tired/tense muscles
Negatives: very strong - not for those with sensitive feet, plastic packaging
Buy again?: maybe in future

Butterwhips Warmly Relaxing Body Butter (10g):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: smells so calming (bergamot + lavender), feels lush on skin, very moisturizing, not too heavy or greasy, versatile, only need a small amount per application
Negatives: plastic packaging
Buy again?: maybe in future

Meadow Skincare Hydration Boost Moisturising Face Balm (5ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: gorgeous in every way - smell is uplifting yet calming, texture is rich without being too heavy, glides across skin, very nourishing, doesn't feel slick, protects against elements
Negatives: none
Buy again?: yes

Primavera Revitalising Cream Cleanser (28ml):
Enjoyed?: mostly yes
Positives: smells lovely (creamy and sweet), not heavy on the skin, doesn't congest pores, leaves skin feeling clean but not stripped
Negatives: plastic packaging, I'm just not keen on cream cleansers
Buy again?: no

Georganics Oil Pulling Mouthwash (100ml):
Enjoyed?: no
Positives: none
Negatives: tastes dreadful, feels dreadful - just not an experience I enjoyed
Buy again?: no

Nuori Supreme Moisture Mask (5ml):
Enjoyed?: mostly yes
Positives: non pore clogging, cream mask helps balance hydration + moisture, easy to apply, no strong scent, skin looks plumped up afterwards
Negatives: the last time I used this my skin reacted - perhaps just a fluke?, plastic packaging
Buy again?: unsure

Forage Botanicals Waning Moon Bath Soak (245g):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: plastic free, lasts ages, soothing and eases aches, super fine grain so disperses quickly and easily in water
Negatives: not super keen on the scent
Buy again?: possibly - has been renamed, but I believe still the same formula

Anita Grant Neroli Rose Dry Oil Spray (100ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: smells lovely (floral, sweet), non-greasy, lasts ages, flower petals are a lovely touch, multi-tasker, very calming on the mind, super softening, nourishing
Negatives: have to be careful about where I apply as it does break me out
Buy again?: maybe

Bellapierre Kiss Proof Lip Creme (Incognitio, Nude, Antique Pink):
Enjoyed?: yes/no
Positives: fast drying, no smudging, long lasting - even passes my coffee test, gorgeous shades
Negatives: irritates my lips (phenoxyethonal)
Buy again?: no

Aromantic Organic Orange Blossom Hydrosol Spray (30ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: refreshing, light and even mist, smells lovely (calming while at the same time lifts your mind), leaves skin feeling cooled and calm
Negatives: none
Buy again?: in future

Kathleen Tranquil Fields Body and Massage Oil (100ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: lovely glass bottle, smells beautiful (calming, lavender notes prominent), rich and nourishing so great for a mega moisture boost, doesn't break me out, multi-tasker
Negatives: I don't love the applicator as it is very slow to apply, a little too slick in consistency for me
Buy again?: maybe

Villiers Facial Cleansing Balm (100ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: silky and velvety on the skin and transforms into an almost milky consistency when you rinse, smells gorgeous (creamy, uplifting), generous size, nourishing
Negatives: very rich so proved too heavy for my skin more often than not
Buy again?: for winter when my skin needs extra TLC

True Skincare Nourishing Avocado & Evening Primrose Facial Oil (30ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: beautiful bottle, easy application, sinks in quickly, doesn't leave face shiny, moisturizing without being clogging, offers dewy finish, great price point
Negatives: none
Buy again?: maybe




Evolve Organic Beauty Superfood Shine Shampoo (50ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: feels so soft when applying, smells lovely, leaves hair feeling refreshed and renewed, adds shine, lathers well, good for a hair cleanse
Negatives: a little drying for my brittle/thin hair, plastic bottle
Buy again?: maybe

Celtic Herbal Christmas Cwtch Candle (105g):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: lasts ages, smells gorgeous (spiced orange, clove), fills room with the aroma, great price point
Negatives: none
Buy again?: yes

Elsa's Natural Deodorant Stick in Ocean (45g):
Enjoyed?: yes/no
Positives: effective all day, smells nice without being overpowering, easy to apply, creamy (not wet), non-irritating and gentle
Negatives: plastic packaging (non recyclable)
Buy again?: love the tin versions and will get that again in future

Skin Dewi Thyme Spot Gel (15ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: works well to combat blemishes, healing, reduces redness, gentle despite the powerful EOs, dropper applicator which makes it easy to control how much you use
Negatives: smell is very potent (herbal, medicinal), application is a bit tricky as consistency is thicker than I would expect
Buy again?: sadly I think this is no longer available to purchase

Siam Seas Mekha Herbal Active Cleanser (5ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: unique aroma (grounding), provides gentle exfoliation as well as an anti-inflammatory cleanse, not too heavy on skin, nourishing
Negatives: really not comfortable with the ingredients used and would not have purchased had I looked closely (royal jelly - I don't view this as an ethical ingredient)
Buy again?: no

Myroo Facial Cleanser (1.5ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: delicate but nourishing, not too heavy on skin, gentle, fully removes makeup
Negatives: too early to tell
Buy again?: maybe

John Masters Organics Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray in Lavender (125ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: doesn't make hair crunchy, gentle, smells lovely, helps encourage beachy waves, ideal as a hairspray substitute, didn't dry out my hair, lasts absolute ages as the bottle is giant
Negatives: plastic bottle
Buy again?: unsure

Ubiety Uplifting Reed Diffuser (115ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: lovely aroma (mandarin, grapefruit, cedar), beautiful glass container
Negatives: the scent isn't very strong (doesn't fill a larger room so more ideal for small/confined spaces), no refills available
Buy again?:

Help Me Organics Help Me Get into the Festive Spirit Candle (150g):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: plastic free, lovely winter inspired smell that slowly fills the room, long lasting
Negatives: none
Buy again?: I'll try other blends in future (this was a limited edition one)

Mystic Moments Birch Sweet Essential Oil (10ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: birch is a favourite of mine so I loved this, great multi-tasker, good price point
Negatives: none
Buy again?: looking for an organic alternative, but maybe

RMS Volumizing Mascara (7ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: thin wand but I find this offers great control, buildable, great shade of black, helps define lashes, no clumping/smudging, gentle on eyes
Negatives: plastic packaging, gets very gloopy at the top of the tube, label immediately wore away
Buy again?: maybe

Tisserand Sweet Dreams Bath Salts (1kg):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: such a generous size and great price point, soothing for mind and body, smells great (lavender, jasmine, sandalwood), larger grain salt which I find makes for a more potent aroma
Negatives: plastic packaging - however they have new packaging available
Buy again?: this has been rebranded to the Sleep Better range (which I have purchased)

Voya Lazy Days Detoxifying Seaweed Bath (400g):
Enjoyed?: yes/no
Positives: seaweed feels incredible on skin, gels offer intensive hydrating and smoothing benefits for skin, feel like a mermaid in the bath
Negatives: TONS of plastic (bag, net, pouch...), enough for 2 baths only, dried out my hair, dead creatures (like snails) in the seaweed which was sad and not pleasant
Buy again?: no unless the plastic use decreases

Simone Thomas Wellness The Biotin Hair Care Plan Biotin Brilliance (30 tablets):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: easy to swallow, high dose, saw initial results way faster than I was expecting, definite boost for hair/nail growth, no taste
Negatives: not available separate from the kit
Buy again?: too expensive for me sadly to use regularly but as a once a year boost it may be worthwhile for me as my hair is in such a bad state from stress

Soap Folk Spiced Apple Soap (115g):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: gorgeous lather, perfect for shaving but a wonderful multi-tasker, long lasting, smells so nice (like mulled cider and apple pie), gentle on skin, non-drying, plastic free
Negatives: none
Buy again?: yes

Skin Alchemists The Gorgeous Soldier (100g):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: everything - smell (like chocolate), texture (not too gritty, buttery), results (smooth, soft skin).  this is a fab gentle exfoliant that has everything going for it
Negatives: nothing
Buy again?: yes




Overall it was a great month of empties, and I enjoyed almost all of the products I finished up (and so did Tim!).  Some favourites have to be Skin Alchemists, Soap Folk, RMS, and Celtic Herbal, but honestly there were so many lovely green goodies it would be hard to select just one as a star.

Have you tried any of these products out for yourself?

What did you finish up last month??

I want to hear from you, and am keen to know what your thoughts are! xx