Beauty Empties & Discoveries Vol. 2

What I finished, what I'll repurchase and what I've bought and loved of late including an amazing foundation, a great brow gel and more.

Welcome back to my column so to speak all about the beauty products I’ve tried and finished lately.

This year I am continuing to do my best to use more of what I have. Which means more #BeautyEmpties and *most* of those I've finished lately are so good that I will be repurchasing them again (if I haven't already!)

But we’re also talking discoveries - what I’ve tested and loved of late.

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Shop more of my Beauty Favorites here.

The Empties

Osea Undaria Body Oil

This is the only real holy grail body oil I love and use religiously. It makes skin feel like a million bucks when applied over damp skin post-shower. Liquid gold and I never am not replenishing it when I run out. It also happens to be a favorite gift of mine to give.

Osea Undaria Body Wash

The same heavenly smell as the body oil and now in a lush body wash. I finished this in record time.

Christophe Robin Scalp Scrub

Yet another full size and mini size done. I’ve gone through countless tubs over the past 10+ years. There’s nothing my sensitive scalp loves more. I use this as my primary shampoo.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum

I am always including one of these in my empties because that’s how much I use it. I will never stop raving about how this has done wonders for my skin. I just gifted it to a friend as part of her birthday present and she texted me days later saying she was sure it was already helping her dark spots. 🥰

How I Finally Righted My Skincare Routine

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

You’ll find these sprays all over my house and my travel bags. I keep one in my bathroom, one in my nightstand and mini sizes in my carry on. My skin is refreshed and feels brighter and more toned with use.

Caudalie VinoHydra Serum

This is a good hydrating serum I often turn to if I am not using my Osea HA serum.

Byredo Gypsy Water Perfume

Sadly the travel size perfumes from my favorite perfume maker only come in trial sets but it was worth it to always have one of my all time favorite perfumes with me when I am on the road.

TBH I just always stock up on free sample size perfumes when I am shopping in Paris, too. It means I always have fun testing and trying new ones so I likely won’t buy more travel size ones anytime soon.

Ecotools Makeup Brush Shampoo

I’ve gone through countless bottles of this stuff. It’s the only thing I find that makes me regularly wash all my makeup brushes.

Tatcha Dewy Cream

Nothing makes my skin look more hydrated and plump than this. If I am wearing makeup I always prime skin with this. No dry patches. No pilling. Holy grail status for me and why I keep repurchasing it. It’s the moisturizer I always travel with for daytime use, too.

Klorane Dry Shampoo

If you’ve followed me for a while you know how much I love this stuff. I buy multiple canisters every time I’m back in France in both full size and mini.

Diptyque Narguile Scented Candle

Not a beauty product per se but couldn’t help but note burning through one of my favorite cozy candles I am always rebuying. This candle has a hint of honey, tobacco leaves and warm spices. It’s heaven.

The Discoveries

I am always testing out new products and love sharing those that make the cut into my regular routine.

Soft Services Theraplush Hold Hand Cream

As someone who is not that into body care, my love of this hand cream surprised me and it now holds a permanent place on my nightstand. It is formulated to not only hydrate hands but also be cuticle care and strengthen nails so win/win/win. I now love the regimen of slathering this on at bedtime from its chic and refillable case.

I personally love the subtle scent of it - it almost feels a bit like aromatherapy when you use at bedtime. Warm spices and woodsy yet nostalgic.

Soft Services Smoothing Solution

From the same brand, this is a great exfoliating gel that I’ve been testing on my rough patches on the back of my arms. They’ve gotten a bit more pesky in recent years and this gel makes it easy to combat that KP or “raspberry” skin.

It’s a clear spreadable gel containing alpha hydroxy acid to dissolve build-up of dead skin cells while also soothing the skin. It dries down quickly and I recommend you follow it with your favorite body moisturizer. For me I usually layer it with the Osea Undaria Body Lotion.

Hourglass Vanish Concealer

I’ve become really hooked on Hourglass of late (hence forth finally recently writing a full review of the brand over on w&w!). Last year their Foundation Brush and Concealer Brush became holy grail for me and now I have some other items I’ve tested and loved that I can’t stop using as well.

I first bought a mini of this to test and ensure I liked it and ended up using it every day on a two week trip. It’s one of those concealers that does well for both dark circles and the redness I battle on my chin and around my nose.

I use shade Silk.

Dieux Instant Angel

If you have sensitive skin and are prone to barrier issues - this is a great moisturizer. Especially because it is fragrance free. Skin feels firm after use which I appreciate as I age and overall it just feels like a good hug for your skin. I particularly like it on no-makeup days.

Eighth Day Priming Moisturizing SPF 30

Earlier this Spring the brand Eighth Day reached out to potentially work together and sent along their SPF for testing to see if I’d like it. I get sent a lot of SPFs to try tbh and most are given away as they are chemical and I only ever test and wear physical sunscreens.

This one has a really nice texture and I particularly love it because of how it wears under makeup. It was formulated to be like a primer of sorts but with a physical sunscreen in it. So many SPFs I have tried will pill when I go to put makeup on and it becomes a disaster.

And I like that it was developed by a skin cancer surgeon, who developed EpiZinc™—a proprietary, non-chemical, non-nanoparticle, sheer mineral sunscreen with natural pigments to neutralize white cast for all skin types and tones.

It is on the pricier side but given its benefits, I think it is worth it.

Westman Atelier Powder Duo

I’ve been a fan of Westman Atelier since I first started testing it in 2020 and it remains a favorite clean makeup brand for me when I want to look and feel my best. The new Powder Duo is great and a nice compliment to some of my favorite products I regularly use from the brand.

It was designed to do double duty for your cheekbones - use the contour to lift and the blush for a joyful pop of color.

I’ve been using shade Baby Cheeks-Biscuit. (I use the cream blush and cream contour in the same shades so they work well together for layering!)

Also available at Sephora.

GenSee Arch Support Brow Gel

This is one of the best brow gels I’ve ever tried. It’s super pigmented (as such use less than you think at first!) and it has major holding power. If you’re like me and don’t have very full brows, definitely give this a go.

I use shade Taupe and haven’t stopped reaching for it since I first tried it.

Chanel Beauty Sublimage L’Essence de Tient

I bought this in Paris after my BFF raved about it. It’s a beautiful, lightweight foundation with light-to-medium coverage that makes my complexion more glowing, and luminous without much effort. I love how it seemingly melts into my skin.

It’s very similar to the Erborian BB Cream so many of us know and love but it is a bit more luminous in its formula so there’s more radiance (less matte of a finish). It’s a serum foundation so my skin looks like my skin but much improved.

I strangely can only find it available on Chanel’s website so it must only be available from them directly and in the EU…

I use shade BR12 and love how it applies with my favorite Hourglass Foundation Brush.

Jenny Patinkin The Big Reveal Eyelash Curler for Hooded and Deep Set Eyes

I don’t talk about this eyelash curler enough but it has absolutely made a difference in doing my mascara and eye makeup in general. Unlike other curlers I’ve tried this one doesn’t pinch and does go to work quickly to lift lashes and make mascara look better after applied.

Beauty Empties & Discoveries Vol. 1

That’s it for this edition! Let me know if you try any of these out - I always love hearing from you guys when you have happy experiences with my recs!

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