As a skincare enthusiast my beauty empties posts tend to be dominated by cleansers, serums and moisturisers. I was aiming for a strong makeup focus with this edition but again skincare seems to have somewhat taken over. And with my makeup routine being typically quite pared back since mornings have been taken over by the school run, it’s amazing there are any empty cosmetics to show at all.

Niskama Gentle Smoothing Face Polish

I discovered this product thanks to The Natural Beauty Box which offers vegan, cruelty-free and natural subscription boxes. This is what I enjoy the most about these boxes: trialling new brands and products I most likely wouldn’t have come across otherwise. And this physical exfoliator ended up being one of my favourite discoveries which I featured so many times on Fresh Beauty Fix. It’s my go-to for a natural, gentle and non-drying option thanks to its fine particles (ground hibiscus flowers and rice powder) and rich oils (coconut, sweet almond, peppermint, bergamot and mandarin oils). I’m sad to see it go but have now moved on to C-Berrica Renewal Foaming Face Powder, and ultra-fine powder that leaves my skin feeling deeply cleansed yet hydrated.

Bioderma sensibio H2O micellar water

Week day evenings spent indulging in a substantial pampering session of masks and foam baths are long gone with increasing long working hours, blog writing, house admin and a demanding child to contend with at bedtime. By the time I’m contemplating getting myself to bed and removing what basic makeup is left on my face at the end of a day, I’m not usually up for a complicated routine. Which is why I’m such a fan of micellar waters, particularly French pharmacy ones. I used Bioderma’s super gentle yet effective micellar water every evening to remove light makeup (even mascara) and dirt, but even then it seemed to last a reasonable amount of time. A French beauty staple I’ll be re-visiting soon.

Creighton’s Body Bliss raspberry and pomegranate hand wash

This hand wash isn’t so much one of my beauty empties but my son’s. The minute I opened the parcel of Body Bliss products Creighton’s had sent me he pounced on this raspberry and pomegranate version and declared it his. Not that I was complaining: the overly sweet and bubblegum-y scent isn’t for me, so for the last 3 months we’ve had two hand soaps by the wash basin: one for the grown ups and this one for my son’s personal use. When this one ran out I was fully expecting a tantrum to ensue, but we have seamlessly transitioned to the Body Bliss Coconut Water version.  

Five Dot Botanics brighten up balancing mist

I discovered this natural, vegan British skincare brand thanks to Zaffrin the Co-Founder who got in touch with me about working together. With each product only ever containing five ingredients – this fuss-free approach to formulas is reflected in the brand’s name and logo which is Morse code for FIVE – you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin. I sprayed this gentle and soothing superfine mist every evening for a boost of hydration and a beautifully delicate rose water scent.

Boots 17 concealer stick

I must have had this stick for a long time before finally opening it because I can’t remember how I got my hands on it – my guess is a beauty industry goodie bag. When I eventually got round to using it, Boots had most likely already discontinued their entry level cosmetic brand (back in 2018). I can’t say that 17 was ever top of my list for makeup but this concealer stick was incredibly efficient at camouflaging pigmentation and uneven skin tone. I would swipe the bullet directly onto clean skin then blend with Clinique’s buff brush. I had previously considered concealer pastes as too heavy but I’m now converted and have moved on to The Body Shop’s Matte Clay.

Clinique Pop Splash Lipgloss

During my time at Clinique last year as a maternity cover we had an office clear out which in beauty office terms invariably means emptying all the cupboards rammed with PR product and merchandising props, and finding a new home for them, through charity donations, staff sales and giveaways. We found a few boxes of Pop Splash lipgloss testers, all limited editions from a partnership with home furnishings, textiles, and fashion company Marimekko. Known for their brightly coloured patterns, they had decorated the caps of 10 Clinique lipglosses. This one caught my attention for its deep purple shade which makes teeth look whiter and brings out my blue eyes. Not sure why this shade was named Watermelon Pop, but it seems that it is not available in the current Pop Splash line up and the closest right now would probably be Fireberry.

Under Eye Brightening Corrector  

Unhelpfully I can no longer remember which brand this product came from, and following a spillage accident in my makeup bag, the branding completing came off the packaging. All I can say is that it is a niche brand offering a light reflecting under eye corrector. The tinted formula offers light coverage which works well for a subtle makeup result.  

Lolita Lempicka Elle l’Aime

Throughout my late teens and early twenties this French whimsical fashion and perfume brand was my go-to for their rich gourmand fragrance, at the time one of the bestselling scents in France. I’ve since then explored many other options, from Givenchy’s warm honeysuckle Organza to Miller Harris’ smoked Tea Tonique and The Merchant of Venice’s grown-up floral Rosa Moceniga. But I still have a soft spot for Lolita Lempicka and this warm white flower bouquet of jasmine, ylang-ylang and coconut flower reminds me why I fell in love with this brand a good 20 years ago.

What beauty products have you been working your way through recently? Please leave a comment below to let me know.

Features gifted products.