I was drowned in work for the last 2 months of the year (only stopped by Covid, which gave me the opportunity to sit down and record a few videos for you), so here’s a good amount of empties from those months. since these have been used up, the reviews are as in-depth as they can be :)
Slowly, I’m using up what I already had laying around at home and I haven’t been buying new things before I finish what I already have, so I’m pretty proud of how I’m starting to shift my spending habits and drastically reducing my whim-buys.
make up favourites 2021
this was a year full of great makeup discoveries – not necessarily launched in 2021, but that I came across and fell in love with this past year –, many of which I’m certain will stay front and center in my collection for a long time.
so grab a cup of your favourite beverage and tag along while I try to collect my thoughts on all the pretty shiny things I’ve encountered last year!
2021 skincare favourites
here’s the products that I came across in 2021 that achieved favourite status.
- Percy and Reed Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Mousse
- Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Body Smoothing Spot Exfoliant*
- Uriage Bariéderm Cica Oil
- The Chemistry Brand Retin–Oil
- Paula’s Choice Omega+ Cleansing Balm*
- Evolve Gentle Cleansing Melt
- Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid Booster*
- Vichy Mineral 89 Pro-biotic fractions
- Geek and Gorgeous Stress Less*
- Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 10*
- Skintegra Úna
- Skintegra Lunar
- Uriage Bariésun Ultra Light Fluid SPF50
- Hello Sunday The One that’s a Serum SPF45
- Uriage Bariéderm Cica Lip Balm
- Paula’s Choice Lip Booster*
- Benton Fermentation Eye Cream*
*Affiliate links for More Than Beauty Store. Use code FREEVOLOUS10 during check-out for 10% discount in any purchase.
an underwhelming haircare routine
I have fine and very oily hair, I don’t dye it and rarely use more heat that the one needed to roughly blow dry it. these are the products I use to keep it in great shape, fuss-free, and wash only 3 times a week.
the essentials
- Klorane Cider Shampoo – could only find the Nettle one online, but it’s pharmacy.
- Wetbrush – Wet Detangler
- L’Oréal Elnett Satin Crème de Mousse Extra Strong Hold (soon to be replaced by Percy and Reed Volumising Mousse)
- Klorane Oat Dry Shampoo (Eco-friendly)
- Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo – Once a week
to condition/repair
(I use very sparingly, because I don’t get much hair dryness or split ends)
- Lush American Cream (Check your local Lush)
- Percy and Reed No Oil Oil
- Schwarzkopf Bonacure Q10 Time Repair
to style
October favourites
the usual mini-reviews on finished products, my verdict, and the newness in my routine.
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation . Up Close and Poresonal
as a huge fan of foundations and a huge fan of Lisa Eldridge makeup, this was one of the most anticipated launches of the year for me.
as soon as she divulged we could get a set of samples to try free with a purchase from her most recent launch, I dove right in. you can also get the samples for a small amount.
the full size of the foundation is being sort of soft-launched in her pop-up store House of Eldridge in Covent Garden, London (it’s a whimsical mix of makeup museum with her vintage makeup collection on display, makeup store, and jewellery store, with both her lines for sale, and it’s open until the end of the year).
I had to control myself for a few days before being able to try it on camera (needed to be home during the day for a full-day test), so here’s the moment when I get to finally play with it for you:
what I could gather at the time of this post:
- the sample cards contain 4 shades and you can buy them online or get one for free with a purchase from her online store (at this moment, some are sold out, but they’ll restock soon);
- the full-sized foundation will cost 44£, around 52€;
- it’s available in 40 shades, in what seems a very inclusive range – goes up to very dark shades and has olive undertones for lighter shades.
in the video I’m wearing shade 16 – light medium with true olive undertones
*please note that at the time of application I had too close to my face, on the left side of the image, a lamp that has a freaky colour temperature bulb (it said daylight on the packaging, but it’s quite greenish), and it reflected massively on the olive tones of the foundation, making it look like I have a green patch on my face. when I turn my head you can see it’s just that weird light, everything is normal, just bad lighting…
September empties
An overview of last month’s empties, with mini-reviews: know what I loved and repurchased and what is not coming back to my collection.
new makeup loves
where have I been burning my moneys lately?
on these:
- Cover Fx Monochromatic Bronzer Duo – Sunkissed Bronze
- Danessa Myricks Vision Flush – Ballet slippers, Sweet Nectar
- Danessa Myricks Twin Flames – Everlasting, Amour
- Beauty Bay Pressed Eye Pigment – Air
- Romand (Rom&nd) Juicy Lasting Tint* – 06 Fig Fig, 01 Juicy Oh!
(also mentioned Glasting Water Tint* 03 Brick River) - Catrice Power Full Liquid Lip Balm – 10 Glossy Apricot
*you can get a discount on any purchase on YesStyle (<— affiliate link, the ones above are not) by using my affiliate discount code FREEVOLOUS10
new beauty – skincare
a small batch of new products entering my life and my impressions so far.
- Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Cleansing balm*
- Geek & Gorgeous aPAD (azelaic acid derivative – hyperpigmentation)
- Geek & Gorgeous Stress Less (barrier repair)
- Hada Labo Premium Moisturiser** (hydrating moisturiser)
- Dear, Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Moisturiser** (rich moisturiser with barrier repair properties) – this product was offered to me by Yesstyle, but the opinions are obviously my own – I don’t sell out for creams.
* affiliate link to More Than Beauty Store, which now has international shipping – use the code FREEVOLOUS10 for a discount in any purchase on the store.
** use the affiliate code FREEVOLOUS10 for a discount in any purchase on YesStyle
learn more about me and my stance on affiliations and other things here.
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