Empties #11

REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

This was an absolute treat and a beautiful pick me up for my skin. Enriched with Vitamin C you apply this all over your face and when you add water it activates the little beads within the formula that literally burst on your face. It is such a bizarre sensation. Once all the beads have popped you leave it on your face for one minute and then rinse off. You’re left with beautiful refreshed and clean skin; it’s like a mini at home facial. It is also incredibly quick and easy so it could be worked into the busiest of routines. Every product I have tried from the REN brand has been beyond amazing and I will definitely be buying the full size. Cruelty Free.

Go-To Skincare Exfoliating Swipeys

These are an absolute lifesaver for anyone who suffers from blocked pores, acne scarring or pigmentation. After I used these, all the products I apply after like serums and treatments work so well because they just create such a clean canvas to apply other products. The single use wipes contain AHA’s to exfoliate without the use of harsh scrubs. After you’ve wiped one of these all over your face hold it up and look at everything that it has managed to pick up off your skin, it’s amazing. It's like a gentle glue free version of a Biore pore strip. I can’t go a week without these, so I had already purchased a new replacement before I got down to my last swipey in this jar. They are also free from nasties like parabens, synthetic fragrances, sulfates and silicones so they won’t upset your skin. Cruelty Free.

Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum

When I saw that the name of this serum included the word ‘Wrinkle’ I thought that it wouldn’t really do much for me since I only have a few fine lines around my eyes. So I opened my laptop, jumped on the Google machine and decided to do a bit of research. The reviews for this product are through the roof and people of all ages including as young as 18 use this product for many different skin concerns. While it might be marketed as a wrinkle repair serum, because this contains retinol it actually works to target a multitude of skin concerns including age spots, sun damage, redness and acne scarring. The last two concern me a lot so I started using this product a few nights a week until it ran out and have been so happy with the results. I used this after the Exfoliating Swipeys and before Face Hero from Go-To Skincare and these three little products soon became my little skin saving treatment trilogy. I saw a noticeable reduction in redness and of my acne scarring to the point that I switched from wearing full coverage foundations like DoubleWear to barely there light coverage foundations like Naked Skin from Urban Decay. My skin still isn’t 100% but I feel so much more comfortable going out without makeup and this product has helped achieve that. The deluxe sample lasted me about two months of on and off use, so I will definitely be repurchasing the full size which retails for only $40. While that may seem expensive for some, for the results I’ve seen it is definitely worth it. Like REN products, I have never tried a product from Paula’s Choice that I haven’t liked so when I repurchase this online I will be picking up a few more to try out. Cruelty Free.

Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream

I have such mixed feelings on this cream and I still don’t know how I feel about it. I received a deluxe sample of this in one of the Priceline goody bags and I have heard so many beauty gurus rave about this cream so I was definitely pumped to give it a go. I was not the biggest fan of its smell and when applied it initially sits on the skin and doesn’t sink in, so you’re left feeling quite greasy. When I would wake up in the morning though my skin would look and feel so amazing. It was just so bright, glowy and hydrated. It contains avocado oil, Manuka honey, shea butter and vitamin E so it does leave skin feeling quite luxurious and despite all the oils and butters it never once broke me out; and I have quite oily skin. I didn’t like the feeling or smell of this cream once applied to my skin but I did like the results it provided, especially with the harsh drying Melbourne winters. I’m still not quite sold on this, so I don’t know how I would feel about repurchasing it straight away, but in the future I might go back and give it another go. Cruelty Free.

Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara in Black

I picked this up at a Heat Cosmetic warehouse sale because I needed a bunch of back up mascaras to keep in my bathroom. I really wasn’t expecting great things from this product as it kind of looked a bit mediocre, but holy guacamole this mascara is like the wonderbra for lashes. The rubber brush contains so many tiny little bristles that one swipe of this leaves your lashes separated and lifted like nobodies business and leaves you with beautiful bambi doe eyes. I actually couldn’t believe how insanely wonderful this mascara was and how I had gone 23 years without using it. It was actually one of the best mascaras I have ever used. But. There are two downsides to this kickass mascara. One: It is discontinued, like most of the products you pick up at the Heat Cosmetic Sales. Two: Covergirl test on animals and this is the biggest deal breaker for me. But that’s all right; I will just go back to using my holy grail ModelCo Fat Lash Mascara after I have used up the other six I have stored in my bathroom. TESTS ON ANIMALS.

Avene Rich Compensating Cream

Unlike the Antipodes cream I did not have mixed feelings for this product at all. It was beyond amazing. I would compare the feeling of this cream to jumping into the cool ocean on a 42-degree day; it just leaves you feeling so refreshed and comfortable. I received these two mini samples from my local pharmacy when I was picking a few products up and the two tiny tubes lasted me a week. I would slather this all over my face at night and it instantly got rid of any dryness, soothed breakouts and left skin feeling incredibly hydrated. I also noticed that whenever I used this that my face wouldn’t be as red as it usually is from my acne scarring. Unfortunately though, despite this being another absolutely incredible 10/10 product from Avene, I will not be able to repurchase due to the fact the Avene do condone animal testing and I’m sure (fingers crossed) that I will be able to find a cruelty free alternative to this wonderfully nourishing cream. TESTS ON ANIMALS.