I don't do the classic "empties" posts very often - the last one was more than 2 years ago! But I've finished up a ton of skincare, makeup, hair and body products in the past few weeks and there are a few interesting ones I want to share with you. Keep reading for my thoughts on each and every one of them!




SKINCARE


- Belif Hungarian Water Essence: I didn't really expect to love this product when I received the travel size, but I ended up really enjoying it. Unlike other essences I've tried this is a gel, not a liquid, which makes it much easier to apply without it dripping through my fingers. I also felt like it gave my skin a nice boost of hydration, and I might actually purchase a full size when there's a sale around. Because at $42 the price is a little steep if you ask me!

-  First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay: here's another product I thought wouldn't work for me which in fact did! With my combo skin I avoid clay as it tends to dry me out, but this product doesn't feel like a clay paste at all. It's really a cleansing gel, and you can't see or feel the clay in it. That's no surprise since clay is way down the ingredients list. It's very strongly scented with rosemary which may not be for everyone, but I did enjoy using it for a deep cleanse after workouts. My skin felt refreshed and purified but not stripped of all its moisture.

- Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado: this eye cream was recommended to me last winter when my undereye area was so dry that no concealer could sit right on it. It's wonderfully nourishing, and the thick creamy texture melts on contact with the skin to become more of a light oil. You can't swipe or rub it in or it will get sticky and feel gross. You just need to tap it into the skin until it melts. I've already repurchased a new jar, since my undereye dryness is even worse this winter :(

- Derma e Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic Acid: I love hyaluronic acid so I had high hopes for this serum, but sadly it let me down. The light lotion consistency was pleasant, but I just couldn't deal with the overpowering floral scent. I'm not someone who's usually bothered by scents in skincare (although I prefer to avoid fragranced products since it's irritating for the skin), but I hated the fragrance in this serum so much it made using it on my face unbearable. It's very strong, like it could be a cologne. I slowly used up the bottle on my neck but it was hard to finish it. Derma e has updated the packaging of their products recently so this one still shows the old design, but I don't think they've changed the formulations. I would not repurchase it.

- Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm: this opalescent balm looked fun in its little travel-size jar and swatched heavily it had a beautiful pearly iridescence. But once spread on the skin it did nothing. No visible glow, no effect on my skin at all except making it slightly greasy. I stopped trying to use it and it started smelling rancid quickly. Maybe very dry skins could benefit from its nourishing properties but I'm not tempted to try again.

- Klorane Make-Up Remover Water with Soothing Cornflower: I've already reviewed this one and I'm going through travel-size bottles fast! I love it for a morning cleanse more than to remove makeup. It's perfect to refresh and very gently clean sensitive or dry skin when you want to avoid a rinse-off product because of the drying effects of water.


MAKEUP


- theBalm Put A Lid On It Eye Primer: does it also take you forever to finish eye primers or is it just me? It took me so long to go through this one that the tube eventually broke around the nozzle! I liked it for its hydrating effect: if you have dry or crepe-y eyelids you'd probably enjoy it, as it will create a smoother base for your eyeshadows. It also helps colors look more vibrant, but I don't think it really makes shadows last longer. It's a silky silicone-y formula that goes on clear. I may repurchase it in the future but for now I'm trying something new.

- Cover Fx Blemish Treatment Concealer: sorry Cover Fx but this has to be the most stupid concealer I've ever tried. It contains salicylic acid which is great to get rid of blemishes. But it has absolutely zero staying power. I put it on, then try to pat to blend the edges, and it's gone. I've tried to set it with powder, but just gently tapping powder on with a brush makes it disappear. It literally slides off my skin within seconds. I've tried so many ways to make this one work... it's not me it's YOU concealer!

- Lancôme Monsieur Big mascara: if you read my recent review you know I love this mascara! It gives me everything I need, curve, volume and length, and it's cheaper than other mascaras from Lancôme. One thing I noticed though is that it dried out fairly quickly. I'll still repurchase it!


HAIR AND BODY


- Dessange Paris Purifying Clay Balancing Shampoo: this is hands down my favorite shampoo. It gives me the squeaky clean feeling I'm looking for on my roots without drying out the rest of my hair. A little goes a long way, but it only comes in a smallish 8.5 fl oz bottle. I keep having to go to Target to repurchase it, and at $9.99 the cost per fl oz is high. I'll probably go back to it but for now I'm trying another shampoo that comes in a bigger bottle (unfortunately I don't love it as much...).

- Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer with Aloe: spray moisturizers had their moment a couple years ago. Remember the annoying St Yves commercial? That moment didn't last long and they've become quite hard to find! That's too bad for me because I love to use them in the morning, when I have to get dressed quickly. I find them so convenient, and they absorb into the skin much faster than regular lotions. I've replaced this one with a spray from Le Petit Marseillais that I brought back from my last trip to France.

- Ouai Treatment Masque: sorry what was this supposed to do for my hair? Cause I didn't notice a difference. In fact my regular conditioner does more to make my hair smooth and hydrated than this mask. Plus the perfume-y scent was horrendously strong. And yeah calling yourself masque isn't gonna help impress me, French is my mother tongue...



The products featured in this post were purchased by me except for the mascara, sent to me for consideration by Influenster. I received no compensation to write this post, which only reflects my personal opinion. This post contains affiliate links. I receive a very small commission when you click on those links, and the money generated covers a small portion of my expenses to purchase products for review. Clicking on those links helps ensure that Beaumiroir continues to publish reviews of new and exciting high end French products - at no cost to you!