Beauty Empties - March 2025

As a self-confessed beauty junkie (and hoarder!), committing to fully finishing each product before opening a new one has truly become a (more) sustainable discipline for me. It also allows me to assess what really works or not through time, and these articles remind me of what I loved and must rebuy and what will never be purchased ever again.
Check all past empties reviews:
Here are 7 products I emptied in February:
WELLNESS
ZENement BerbeLipid Complex
Starting with beauty-from-within, wellness is an integral part of my beauty regimen, so is exercise, food and sleep. I started taking Berberine supplements one year ago - I first wrote about it here. I have done a few necessary pauses through the year and the one I have been taking for the past year is Berbelipid by ZENement. I take two capsules at dinner time as it is usually my only meal of the workday. On weekends, I take one at breakfast or lunch and a second one at dinner time. Enriched with Red Yeast Rice, Folic Acid, CoQ10, Vitamin B1 and Astaxantina, Berberine is considered Nature's Ozempic and helps boost our metabolism.
HAIR
Skala Expert # Mais Cachos Shampoo & Conditioner
Even if I have an extensive beauty product collection, I seem to get temporary amnesia whilst packing for a travel and I forget everything back at home. I forget on purpose when I am about to travel to a major city such as Cape Town or Paris which have the best beauty brands stores and I want to stash up on my way back. That is absolutely not the case when I travel in Angola as I was about to in October and was heading to 7 provinces in 10 days. I had forgotten my shampoo and conditioner back at home so I stopped at a supermarket in the middle of my journey to buy some. I only found this Brazilian brand called Skala, which I used a lot when I was a teenager living in Angola (before I headed to France at age 14, for 11 years). So this is a brand that sounded familiar to me but I have not used in over 20 years. And let me tell you, I am very positively surprised and would buy back. These curly & coily hair products not only smelled amazing but left my hair super manageable to detangle and moisturised. They came in a pack so it contained one of each but I usually prefer to buy 2 conditioners per shampoo as conditioners don't last long with me. But shampoos do. What does that tell about me?
Moroccanoil Treatment Oil (travel size)
You might feel you have already seen me talk about this product before? It's because I have indeed. I go through one every other month since 2012, I love putting a few drops with my hydrating or detangling cream before styling my hair in the morning. I just can't get enough of that amazing smell. Will rebuy, always.
SKINCARE
Avène Ultra Light SPF 50+ Sunscreen
I use sunscreen every day - even when I don't leave the house - and Avène's Fragrance Free formulas are one of my favourite of all as they penetrate the skin really quickly. Which is super practical as my morning routine needs to be fast! I loved this Ultra Light formula, also aimed for protection against blue light. I loved it and would buy again.
Lumene Nordic Hydra Arctic Spring Water Facial Mist
From my favourite Nordic beauty brand, this must be the 3rd or 4th bottle I have emptied ever since first trying this Facial mist. I just love how it smells, how it makes my face look healthier and how fast it dries when I use it in the morning. It is an integral part of my skin care routine and I will always rebuy it until I find something better which I doubt I will.

NAILS
Essie Eternal Optimist Nail Polish
You know where to find me on Sunday evenings? I am home, in my loungewear, watching a movie with my husband and doing my nails for the week. If you find me anywhere else, I may have been kidnapped and doing something else against my will.
What my Sunday evening Nail routine looks like: first I remove my nail polish (or whatever survived 7 days later), then I remove my cuticles (I am rubbish as it but I do my best), I file my nails, apply three coats of nail polish (Eternal Optimist, Lady Like or Fifth Avenue, both by Essie), a coat of speed setter and when the whole process is done, I rub my nails and cuticles with a bit of Essie Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil (it smells so good!). I love how my nails feel fresh and ready to tackle the week with this routine. I do not have the most beautiful nails - a lifetime of biting them has its toll - but doing the same process week after week makes me feel more confident about them.
This empty is not really an empty: after years of using it, the nail polish becomes denser and harder to apply, so I decided to part ways but have already another bottle on the go. I got married with this nail polish and my husband also loves the colour. I love having something on me - other than my engagement and wedding ring! - that remind me daily of that life changing event. Will completely rebuy.
Like this content? We can connect also on BlueSky | TikTok | Youtube | Pinterest
Comments ()