The ‘Not Empties’ post!

A slightly different kind of post, but I realised that there’s some products that won’t quite make it to my ’empties’ posts and thought I’d share why, not necessarily because they’re bad products either!

Laura Mercier Palette

This is a ‘hand me down’ kind of product, or rather a ‘hand me up’ as my younger sister gave it to me because she just wasn’t using it.  Although I haven’t hit the pan on any of the shades, trust me, if I could buy this again I would but I believe it’s one of those limited edition products.   My sister wasn’t sure how long it had been open and although I am not necessarily throwing products away because the 6months, 12months, 24months is up, this reached it’s natural expiry.  I was using this a lot, and loved the ‘Tangerine’ blush which is a beautiful shade.  The palette has had a great pigment and colour pay off, but on the last few uses there was just no longevity in the wear of the eyeshadows or the blushes which was unusual.  I have put this down to the fact this palette is actually just old! Haha!  I’ve had it for far too long and shouldn’t have taken so long to start using it after I was given it.

Would I repurchase?

Absolutely yes!  If this type of palette was released again I would consider buying it knowing the quality is great.

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Mac Paint Pot in Soft Ochre

Soft Ochre by Mac is a hit amongst many Beauty You Tubers.  I think I first started using this as a base for my dance competition makeup as it gave a perfect canvas to apply such heavy eye makeup that I needed to last all day and inspired by MUA Rachel Maree Macintosh.  This is another product whereby being a cream, has a shelf life of around 6-12 months.  This was definitely past but I knew it was time to get rid of it because when I applied it, it was creasing badly and looking caked and almost orange as if it had oxidised.  Again I don’t blame the product as I have had it open too long!

Would I repurchase?

Yes!  It is a great eyeshadow base…I just need to use it more often that just for dance competitions!  The hotel I am staying in when I go to New York is directly above a Mac store….this is on my list!

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DiorSkin Nude Air Powder

Simply, this product is a beautiful finishing powder but I made the mistake of believing the counter rep in Debenhams.  I already use the Dior Forever foundation in shade 010.  When the lady tried to match me for the liquid foundation she said I was 020 which I got a sample of as I thought it was too dark.  In natural light, 020 was too dark so I went back for a sample of 010 which is perfect for me.  I went to the counter a few weeks later after researching the DiorSkin Nude Air Powder and thought I should buy 010…naturally.  The same rep told me that the powders come up lighter than the foundations and insisted 020 was my shade.  Needless to say….it’s not!  I have used this a few times and despite being a lovely powder, it looks awful on me!  Just one shade darker yet it really makes my skin look orange!  I am giving this away to a friend who is 020/030 shade!

Would I repurchase?

Yes!  I would also listen to my own instincts and go for the shade I think I am!

Percy & Reed Hairspray

Now onto something I’ve stopped using because I didn’t actually like it!  This hairspray in my opinion has a really strange smell to it!  I can’t even describe it, I just don’t like it!  It also doesn’t do anything in terms of hold in my hair!  I tried to use it to keep my fringe held back when the rest of my hair was in a pony tail….it simply did nothing!  It’s a shame as I love their ‘Wonder Balm’

Would I repurchase?

This was a sample product, which had been in my draw for a while unused…I think from Birchbox when I used to subscribe to it.  Based on the smell and how well the product works…no, I won’t be purchasing.

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UltraSun SPF30 Eye

This product was sent to me by Ultra Sun to try so in terms of a repurchase, I received this item for free.  Unfortunately, although I love the Face SPF by Ultrasun, this eye cream sounded amazing but I wasn’t impressed.   Described as a lightweight, hydrating formula I expected something that would be great for my dry undereye and the fact that it was protecting my skin from UVA and UVB rays is great!   Unfortunately that wasn’t the case.  I tried this product on a number of occasions both without a separate eye cream (as I would assume you’re meant to!) and with another eye cream underneath to try and hydrate my skin first, this just would not work for me.  I used the tiniest amount I possibly could and I found it was dry, not hydrating or lightweight.  It was also meant to brighten the undereye….rather than brighten, it left a white powdery cast which then balled up to the side of my eye.

I tried both patting it on and smoothing it on in terms of application technique.  It really doesn’t work for me.  I have read varying reviews for this cream, both good and bad, but as I’ve said before, not every product will work for everyone and the same applies that just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you!

Would I purchase?

No, regrettably I wouldn’t for all of the above reasons.  As much as I want to protect my skin, I don’t want dry and powdery under eye areas either.

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That’s the round up of products I’ve recently stopped using.  If this type of review is useful I will continue to post about other products that I haven’t liked or had to stop using for whatever reason, be it good or bad!  Let me know what you think in the comments below or if you’ve clicked through from Facebook or Instagram, feel free to return to the page and leave your comment there!

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35 thoughts on “The ‘Not Empties’ post!”

  3. Samantha Abbott says:
    Reply

    Sorry to hear you didn’t get on with the Uktrasun Eye! I’ve not really had that rolll off/balling effect with it myself although it is a slightly odd consistency. I’ve not tried any of the other products you talked about! Love your posts. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    • Beauty and The Ballroom says:
      Reply

      Yeah it’s a strange one. I really wanted it to be great as I love their face spf 😏 I won’t be binning it though, as it’s a tube it’s hygienic enough for me to give it to a friend who wants to try it so hopefully it’ll work for her. Thank you for reading xx

      Like

  5. llindaxxo says:
    Reply

    What a unique post! I’ve always felt obligated to keep my makeup and still use it past the expiration date as long as I’ve been sanitizing and storing it properly, but now that I think about it. There are still so many products that I’ve just stopped using because it’s too old and after reading this, I think it’s finally time to declutter! Maybe I’ll write and post about mine too!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Beauty and The Ballroom says:
      Reply

      Same here! I’m just bad at not using something but then not throwing it out either 😂 I always store things in the dark, cool and dry etc etc but if it’s just stopped working (colour pay off dropped etc) then I don’t want to carry on using it anyway.
      I thought this was a little different! I’d love to see your post if you do one! 😋 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Jade says:
    Reply

    This is a great post idea! I did an empties post this week and I realised it’s not something I could do on a regular basis as I never seem to use anything up! 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. stashy says:
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    I like the concept of this “Not Empties” post. Some items I’ve owned for YEARS and won’t be finished before I toss them. I’m accumulated a bunch of items for a declutter soon.
    I’ve been wanting a Laura Mercier Palette for ages. I feel like I’ve missed the boat on some of her more popular ones from holiday releases a couple of years ago. I hope she releases one this year that I’ll like.
    My Soft Ochre dried out too but I’ve owned some MAC Paint Pots for YEARS! And they still work fine… 😳
    I’m glad your too dark Dior powder can go to a good home – some SAs are so clueless with colour matching! I don’t know why, but they always recommend too DARK.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Beauty and The Ballroom says:
      Reply

      Thanks for reading. That LM palette is one I’d have missed out on too but my sister just wasn’t using it as she doesn’t wear much makeup so she gave it to me.
      I’ve got a couple of other Mac paint pots that I need to check actually. I think Painterly is ok but I think Camel Coat (I think that’s what it’s called!!) may have died along with Soft Ochre 😂😂
      I swear with the foundation checker it’s because it’s under such extreme lights! The Estée Lauder one in my local Boots is by the main doors so the woman in there even gave me a mirror and told me to check it outside! Yes! Natural light! 👌

      Like

  10. thebeautyandthegeekau says:
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    Such a shame you were matched wrong to the dior powder. I’ve made this mistake too of going against my own thoughts and listening to the professionals. For me, it was estee Lauder double wear. She insisted I was cool toned but I said I’ve always been warm. I bought it anyway because I thought I could trust her and it looked so horrible on me!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Beauty and The Ballroom says:
      Reply

      Oh no! Yeah it’s an expensive mistake to make isn’t it 😏 when I emailed Dior (I should have just gone back to store) but their response was the onus is on the customer to buy the correct shade and that their shade match is only a guide!!

      Like

  12. Nailderella says:
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    Yay! I love MAC paint pots in general but soft ochre is just such a great one! I also love DiorSkin Nude Air Powder!

    Like

  16. Bex says:
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    Love this post! Super interesting and different. Also, hopefully you haven’t already tossed the Laura Mercier palette, but dry makeup (non-liquid or cream), doesn’t actually expire. They only have expiration dates because of bacteria build up in the product. If you continuously sanitize the shadows and blushes with 99% isopropyl alcohol, it should stay good until you’re all done with it. 🙂 I have palettes from HS that are still sanitary and the formula/pigmentation haven’t changed a bit since I bought them. I just do a quick spritz every after every use, but if it hasn’t been sanitized in awhile, you spritz it generously and then make sure that it FULLY dries out before using it again. (Otherwise, the alcohol will irritate you).

    Liked by 1 person

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