Beauty Products Emptied in January 2016

For once, there is a makeup product among my empties. There is, as usual, much more skincare, but a lot of it was used in December rather than January. I am taking things slowly because of the staph outbreak and only use prescription products now but have been purging the harsher products from my cabinets and - hurrah - buying new skincare after careful examination of INCI lists and consultation with my derm. Will show you my haul posts once everything gets here.

Scroll down to check out the beauty products I emptied in January 2016 and my thoughts on each.

Face products

Ole Henriksen Empower Foaming Milk Cleanser
Received in a LookFantastic box. I don't know why they called it foaming - it is sulphate- and lather-free and mild. I had taken it along on my ill-fated trip to the flood areas (which, if I haven't complained about a zillion times in the last month, has caused a staph infection), and it had removed my (mild) makeup off without problems.
Repurchase? No. For starters, I am on a prescription face wash now. For another, I am overhauling my skincare routine and getting other cleansers.
Buy it here. Code LF15 for 15% off.

Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara
Rather than actually use up this outrageously meh mascara that did nothing for my lashes, it has dried up - hurrah!
Repurchase? When you are CELEBRATING a mascara drying up, what do you think?

Tony Moly AC Control Toner
For the first time, I have turned to toners to help with cleansing, balancing and hydrating my skin, and this was the start. Very mild stuff that made my skin feel good afters. Them Koreans know their toners. And skincare.
Repurchase? Already ordered from W2Beauty. All links here ship worldwide.

Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine-Free Moisturiser
I had begun with this on my face but ended up using it on the body after my skin went for a toss. This is a Sephora Europe-based brand. And no, it did not yield "seriously shine-free" results when I used it on my face.
Repurchase? Whaffor??

Pai Rice Plant and Rosemary BioAffinity Tonic
Pain. That was the only feeling on my face until last week - things have begun to look up, very sloooooowly BUT I cannot moisturise. At all. It hurts to touch my face.
I used this spray (from the LookFantastic Advent Calendar, reviewed here) several times a day to keep my face hydrated throughout January. The beauty of face mists is that you do not have to touch your face to apply them. Also, the base is water and not oil. Brilliant!
Pai is a range formulated specifically for skin prone to or suffering from acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea and so on. And no, this is not a PR sample and I am not working or affiliated with them in ANY way. Everything here was purchased.
Ingredients: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosmarinus Officinalis Water, Glycerin, Populous Tremuloides Bark Extract, Leuconostoc Root Extract. Nothing here to hurt me. Zilch. Nada.
You know what they say about rice water and the Japanese complexions? All true. 
Repurchase? Yes, yes! I ordered the full-sized bottle last Friday AND also a couple of trial kits of theirs.
Buy this tonic here, all you problem-skin sisters/brothers.

Eye products

Why are there two? Because one was day and the other was night. Used up over two months.
111 Skin Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel
Whenever my Dad goes travelling (and one of us forces a beauty shopping list on him), he always scrounges enough samples for three women, far more than I can manage. The secret? Apparently he tells the SA that the number of samples given is inversely proportional to the ensuing bloodshed in the family (and could very well end up being his own blood), so they smile and become generous. Fights occur nonetheless. This sample was worth the argument. A lovely rich hydrating night-time gel that kept my eyes looking reasonably decent during the Great Skin War.
Repurchase? Would love to but £110 for a paltry 15ml means I need to marry Prince Harry and put up with that dysfunctional family to get this eye cream.
Buy it here. Er, mind introducing yourself just so I know someone who bought this?

Shiseido Ibuki Eye Correcting Cream
I love the Ibuki range, especially the cleanser and the eye cream. When I apply this cream, it gives a mild tingly sensation but disappears soon enough for the day time.
Repurchase? Already did a couple of months ago from the local Shiseido counter! 

Body products

Hello Everybody Nature Holic Body Lotion-Milk 
I have been generous with all-over moisturising since my face needed fewer products.  This came in a Memebox last year. I liked the smell but in my opinion, it absorbed slower than other body moisturisers out there.
Repurchase? No. Besides, what kind of name is that?

Grace Cole Lily and Verbena Body Cream
Grace Cole is my favourite body moisturiser range and this smelled like a dream - mild and pleasant. It absorbed quickly and kept reptilian fish scales at bay. No animal testing, no parabens.
Repurchase? Done - I have about a dozen body creams from Grace Cole in my stash.

Neal's Yard Remedies Frankincense Hydrating Cream sample
There was just a smidgen of this; I used it up to cover my kneecaps. Not exaggerating here, haha.
Repurchase? Nice smell. Possibly not, though.

Arran Aromatics Velvet Isle Hand Cream
I showed you some Arran products here and said this was a brand to watch out for. I don't know how much expansion they are planning but I seriously hope it is a lot. Because once you use their hand creams and body creams....
Repurchase? Different fragrance, yes.

Hair products

Phyto Subtil Elixir
Enough for two uses. A lightweight oil I applied on the scalp mostly, and the ends, overnight and rinsed off the following morning for no-longer-dry hair. Nice.
Repurchase? Yes. I'm game for anything Phyto.
Buy it here.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask With Prickly Pear Seed Oil
This is the second time I've used this mask and it is up there with my all-time favourite hair masks. AMAZING smell and texture, incredible hydration and smoothness and gorgeous feel afters. What more do you want?
Repurchase? Yes. Will buy just before birthday splurge.
Buy it here. 

Curlisto Botanical Rinse 
I'm trying to figure out where I got this. I used it as a CO-wash and it was decent. I prefer basic condish products for CO-washing - those have more slippage and are easier on the bank, and I have seriously long hair (think bottom-skimming).
Repurchase? No.

Redken Diamond Oil and Extreme Length Treatments
Each was enough for just the one use. I've been pampering my hair! Sadly, after Christophe Robin and Phyto, these weren't as awesome. Decent, yes, but my hair wasn't as wow afterwards.
Repurchase? Nope, best save up for Christophe Robin.
Buy them here.

Glam Up Steam Hair Pack
A sheet mask for the hair. You open the "turban", wrap your hair in it and tie it up, maybe apply a warm towel on top, and relax before rinsing the lot of. Nice.
Repurchase? Have a few of these queued up.

Sorry there isn't a link-up this month. I signed up for a paid subscription on InLinkz and thought my payment went through but it still says I need to upgrade so am working on sorting that out. Next month, promise.

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