It is a bit belated, but it IS that time of month again where I share my empties. I have been doing a fair amount of travel lately (I am currently away at the moment!) which has allowed me to use up some samples that I had stashed or some travel sized products which I have been saving for flights or time away from home. A lot of my empties this month are smaller trial sized products or products that are just so great for travelling and have the main focus of hydration. Read on to find out more in what I have used up in the past 4-6 weeks.
**Please note anything with a * has been gifted to me, anything with a ^ has been given to me from an beauty industry insider and anything marked with a ~ is an affiliate link which goes towards maintaining this blog! However, these do not effect my opinion on the products and everything I share is my own honest opinion. I just like to disclose everything so that I am transparent as possible and transparency is so important to me!
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Wipes*
I generally don’t use wipes, but that being said there is most definitely a time and place for them. Travelling is one of those perfect situations where having wipes on hand makes life a little easier (and my face a lot cleaner). I recently took these Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Wipes with me on my travels and found them to be the perfect travel companion, both on the plane and in situations where my bathroom situation might not have been ideal.
What I loved about these wipes is that they really helped to remove not only my makeup but also the rest of the day’s dirt, sweat and grime. I genuinely thought that my face felt a lot more cleaner and refreshed when using these wipes. I would then follow with a first and second cleanse (it was so hot and my face felt so disgusting that I felt that this was a much needed step). The best thing about these wipes were that I found the formulation to be incredibly gentle, they did not irritate my skin or my eyes at all and I found that they did a fantastic job or removing that layer of sweat, makeup and SPF from my skin.
My skin did not feel stripped or uncomfortable using these and I found that the ingredients for these were reasonably gentle (no alcohols or anything too drying for the skin). The ingredients are the following:
AQUA/WATER/EAU, POLYSORBATE 20,PENTYLENE GLYCOL, MANNITOL, XYLITOL,RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES,ALLANTOIN, CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE, DISODIUM EDTA, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM). [BI 516]
I would most definitely be repurchasing these again for when I do travel as I am a huge fan of these and they are convenient, compact and most importantly gentle for my skin. The Bioderma Sensibio H2O wipes can be purchased from Beautylish for USD$9.90, Escentual for £7.10 and from Adore Beauty for AUD$20.99.
OUiGLO Rich Collagen Sheet Mask^
I love a good sheet mask and with sheet masks becoming so popular now due to the rise in K-Beauty, I have noticed many Western countries taking on the technology and innovations of sheet masks and making it their own. Some of these Western brands haven’t really got it but the OUiGLO Rich Collagen Sheet Masks actually get it very right. What I love about these sheet masks is that they are quite affordable – not a hyped up $9 or $10 mask, the OUiGLO masks stack up to be a very nice USD$39 for a pack of 12 (thats USD$3.25 per mask!).
For the price point of these masks, I can’t complain about their performance. The collagen infused masks by OUiGLO are meant to be used 2-3 times a week to compliment an existing skincare routine. These masks also contain fruit extracts and cucumber to give the skin a beautiful dewy and luminous complexion.
I found that after using the OUiGLO Rich Collagen Mask, my skin looked plump, hydrated and had a beautiful glow. The sheet mask itself was a wonderful fit for my face and the material used for this mask was quite comfortable on my skin. It stayed on and didn’t slip, even though this mask was soaked with essence.
When I removed this mask, my skin looked fuller and had that coveted luminous, dewy glow. Moistursier applies perfectly fine on top and the glowing effects of the skin last through until the next day. The OUiGLO Rich Collagen mask is the perfect skin pick me up – great for when skin needs a little bit more bounce and glow and perfect before an event or a special night out. I think the price point for these sheet masks are fantastic and I love the way these leaves my skin looking and feeling.
It is also so easy to incorporate into an existing routine – perfect for those who want to indulge a little bit more but don’t know where to start.
The OUiGLO Rich Collagen Masks are available to purchase from the OUiGLO online store for USD$39 for a pack of 12 masks – a months supply if used 2-3 times a week. PS: Aussie Beauties, this will be in the next Maslow & Co Beauty Edit!
Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner
Remember how last month I mentioned I was looking at joining the expensive shampoo club? Well I think I finally have ‘the one’ with the Oribe Gold Lust Haircare range. The shampoo and conditioner in this range has been amazing for my hair and I can’t believe I have taken this long to get on board with the Oribe bandwagon. I initially was given the sachets to try from the lovely @skinmusings and from there I purchased these travel sized versions, which have now eventuated to me purchasing the full sized product as my hair doesn’t feel quite the same when I use my usual supermarket shampoo.
The Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner leaves my hair softer, glossier and shinier than ever before. My hair is in generally in good shape as I have never coloured it and the only real ‘damage’ I do to it is that I often go over it with a GHD and I also wash my hair every day (a terrible habit I know). These factors can sometimes lead to my ends being a little dry, however I find that with the Gold Lust range, my ends feel like they are in much better shape.
I also often find that some shampoo and conditioners can irritate my scalp and skin but the Oribe Gold Lust range has no negative effects on me (thank goodness!). The formulation seems to be quite gentle and nourishing for me to use everyday and it keeps my hair looking so incredibly healthy, shiny and soft. I can’t speak more highly of this haircare range!
The Oribe Gold Lust range is definitely much more expensive than any other shampoo or conditioner I have used in the past, retailing for USD$49 (full size shampoo) and USD$52 (full size conditioner) however, after seeing how healthy and glossy my hair looks from using this, I don’t think I could go back. This shampoo and conditioner set was definitely a huge favourite of mine, so much so, I went ahead and repurchased in a full size. I would even be close to saying it is a holy grail product.
The Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner can be purchased from Net-A-Porter~ and Beautylish and is available in travel 50ml size, 200ml size and the larger 1000ml size.
Jordan Samuel Skin Hydrate
I don’t think Jordan really gets it wrong with his products. I loved Plie and just when I thought the hype couldn’t get any more real, Hydrate really impressed me. I love this hyaluronic acid serum and I personally think its one of the best I have ever tried. Its formulation is quite versatile whereby it can be used on its own (the way I like to use it) or it can also be mixed in with other products such as moisturisers, balms, concentrated serums (like Vitamin C) or oils. I find that Hydrate does exactly as the name suggests – it really helps to hydrate my skin, soothe any irritation and overall helps to give my complexion looking more plump, fuller and hydrated.
My skin absolutely loves this and will quite simply drink this up. Having used this quite a lot over the past few months, I have noticed that my skin no longer has those dreaded dry flaky patches and when I applied on to my eczema along with other topical treatments, it helps to relieve and heal the skin faster. The initial texture of this is a little thicker than some hydrating serums I have toyed with in the past, however it sinks into the skin and leaves no residue and works well layered with other products.
I seriously cannot fault this product (maybe it just needs to be available in a bigger size?), its ingredients are the following:
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice *Organic, Vegetable Glycerin *Organic, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan gum, Gluconolactone, Tamarindus Indica (Tamarind) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata (Passion flower) Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide, Sodium Benzoate, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract *Organic
I think what sets Hydrate a part from other hyaluronic acids/hydrating serums is that this product does not contain water. Water is not part of the ingredients listing, in fact the first ingredient shown on Hydrate is Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice which may explain its wonderful hydration powers as it is a known humectant, meaning it will help prevent the loss of moisture in the skin. Hydrate also contains hyaluronic acid and Tamarind extract (which Jordan has said here to potentially be more powerful than hyaluronic acid – both work to attract and hold water to the skin.
Looking at the ingredients listing, Hydrate is a really straightforward hydrating serum, but don’t let its simplicity deter you as I find that this really packs a good hydrating punch to the skin. My skin absolutely loves it and I don’t know where I would be without. Have a I repurchased? A resounding yes! I am on my second bottle already and will get a third soon.
Jordan Samuel Skin’s Hydrate can be purchased through the Jordan Samuel Skin website here, it comes in a 30ml dropper bottle and retails for USD$29.
Ambuja Wanderlust Elixir
The Ambuja Wanderlust Elixir is a little sample that I have chosen to use only when needed – as it was love at first drop for this serum. I do fly quite a bit and I have resorted to only using this when I travel as I have found that this elixir/serum helps to keep my skin hydrated, nourished and in check on my flights. I love the way this feels on the skin, it has an extremely lightweight texture that sinks so effortlessly into the skin leaving it looking healthier, hydrated and softer post flight.
The sample of this was quite small so it was very hard for me to see any long term effects as this only lasted a few applications. However, based on first impressions, I quite liked this as it really kept my skin looking healthy during my flights and I felt that it really did work to keep the skin nourished and hydrated. I also loved the fact it works so well with other products such as a hydrating serum and moistursier. I found that when using this, my skin remained healthy, plump and still had a little bit of glow. Usually when I fly, I find that the plane really does suck the life out of my skin and I love finding products that help maintain the skin when in the air. The Ambuja Wanderlust Elixir works so well to keep my complexion looking refreshed when travelling and it would be something I would consider buying a full size of when I start flying more in the next 12 months. It is marketed as an Age-Defying formula, however, the sample was far too small to see any long term effect in this area.
The Ambuja Wanderlust Elixir is most definitely a luxuriously priced product, retailing at GBP£205 from Alyaka for 30ml, it is most definitely is an investment. This product is most definitely not one for everyone, however, I find that the ingredients, technology and philosophy behind the Ambuja skincare line is quite fascinating as I have discussed in this post here.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair cream is a staple in my body care/skincare stash. I used to always have tubes like this on hand, scattered throughout my bathroom, room and handbags. The reason being? It is just a fantastic jack of all trades moisturiser that works well on both my body and also on a very dry face. I have been using this on and off for a few years now and it works wonders for dry skin. I used to use this on my face when my skin was very dry in the winter but now days I use this exclusively on my body – in particular arms and legs before I got out (realistically I should use this more). I find that this keeps my skin moisturised and soft and I love the fact the formula sinks in quite quickly into the skin. I never get that greasy feeling and it usually leaves my generally dry legs and arms moisturised throughout the day. I love the fact the formulation is quite intense and it can smooth out some of the driest of skins. It even helps to soothe and smooth dry flaky patches on the skin and is another alternative to help keep my eczema at bay.
It has a relatively simple formulation and I find that it doesn’t really contain anything that would irritate my skin normally and has no real scent to it either. The ingredients listing is the following:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Squalane, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide 3, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Disodium Edta, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol.
I have loved using this as it really is a fantastic staple at to have (and quite well priced too) but I probably will hold off repurchasing for a little while as I have been trialling a few other creams and oils lately.
The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is sold at First Aid Beauty for USD$12, Lookfantastic for £10 and Sephora Australia for AUD$22.
The Divine Company Illuminating Day Cream*
I love little minis and The Divine Company Illuminating Day Cream which came in a Maslow & Co Beauty Subscription box a few months ago was the perfect little travel companion. I found that this moisturiser was a fantastic consistency for the colder months for my combination skin and probably great as an everyday moisturiser for this with normal or dry skin. It is not too heavy and not at all too light and it does sink it to the skin quite nicely and give the complexion a little glow (probably why its called ‘illuminating’) and keeps everything locked in. It works quite well to keep the skin hydrated and I found it sat really well with other products, locking in serums and oils but also working really well underneath foundation. I think it might be just that little bit too heavy for me to personally use in the summer time but I did quite like it for the colder months as it gave my skin a little bit of extra hydration and nourishment to protect my skin from the colder environment. Its relatively light texture is quite amazing considering it is made out of all natural ingredients, with 90% of these ingredients being certified organic and it also being Australian Certified Organic. The listing is as below:
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerine*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Stearic Acid, Heptyl Undecylenate, Butoryserpum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract*, Xanthan Gum, Prunus Armenicia (Apricot) Kernel Oil*, Terminalia (Kakadu Plum) Fruit Extract*, Sodium Hydroluate, Vigna Acoitifolia Seed Extract, Squalane, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Liquorice) Extract, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Extract*, Daucus Carota (CARROT) Tissue Oil, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Citrus Aurantfolia (Lime) Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil*, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil*, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Extract*, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Citral^, Geraniol^, Limonene^.
*Certified Organic.
^Constituents of essential oils.
Whilst I did enjoy using this moisturiser, I don’t see myself purchasing a full size Illuminating Day Cream any time soon due to the fact it may just be a little bit heavier than what I am used to come the warmer weather. I personally would would much prefer to use this as a night cream as I generally like moisturisers that feel weightless during the day (I am picky afterall). However, those with drier skins will love using this for the extra nourishment and hydration it provides the skin, and that subtle glow that comes with using this moistursier from The Divine Company is just an added bonus.
The Divine Company Illuminating Day Cream can be purchased from The Divine Company website for AUD$59.95 for 50ml.
Have you used any of the above before? What did you think of them? How often do you go through empties? I would love to find out in the comments section below!