Nov 2, 2025 6 min read Empties

November 2025 Empties: Beauty & Skincare products I used up to the end

Some of my empties this month: the usual Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, Kristen Ess Curl Leave-In Dream and Filorga's Time Flash Express Smoothing Primer

Disclaimer: this content is not sponsored nor affiliated - I pay for everything that I use myself. This independence allows me to tell you what I have been loving the most with unbiased honesty.

I can't even believe that I have not written about Beauty & Skincare Empties since September. But reality is that it was not completely my fault: I usually keep a bag with my empties through the month to photograph them together in one sitting. Alas, I left the bag out of the usual drawer, my housekeeper saw it, thought it was garbage and she threw it out. I was livid that she did that, as I usually never leave things around for her to throw away except for the garbage.

I don't have a picture of what was in that bag and only a vague memory of what was in it, but that is why I didn't write in October. In the meantime, I travelled and spent almost two months out of home, so that furthered the delay.

Check all past empties reviews:

Here are the latest empties I remember for the past few weeks and I expect to get back to the monthly routine from January on:

BODY

Dove Pomegranate and Lemon Verbena Deo

If my former empties reviews can prove you one thing, it would be that I love anything from Dove in regards to shower gels and deodorants. I usually use the Cucumber and Aloe Vera formulas, but also loved this pomegranate one in spray. I always feel fresh and clean with Dove's products, so they are a staple in my routine.

Verdict: I will always rebuy.

HAIR

Kristin Ess Ultra Hydrating Curl Leave-In Cream

Kristin Ess is a brand from California, United States. I had never heard about it before seeing it at the amazing Clicks store in Cape Town (and afterwards in the Namibian stores as well). I really enjoyed this leave-in spray, it made handling my hair easier on the days it was very untangled and lifeless.

Verdict: I enjoyed it, I would rebuy if needed.

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream

Yes, it's true, I speak about this product at every other product review, it's one of my favourite hair creams ever. I go through one every other month.

Verdict: I will always rebuy and stock it.

SKINCARE

Avène Cold Cream Lip Balm

This lip balm came in pairs with a tiny cold hand cream to take on the go by an exit corridor at a duty free. I had one at the office and one at home and both lasted a long time. The texture is rich and it delivers instant moisture to my lips. I need to apply several times during the day, it's not an application per day will do type of product - or my lips are just that dry all the time!

Verdict: I would rebuy as a steady and rich lip balm to have in hand

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water

I have been using this product since 2010 and I swear by it. I try other micellar waters here and there, but this is the most efficient and reliable of them all. Even if the pictured one is the small travel size, the real one I emptied was the 850 mL pump one that is just better for the environment because I will go through it. Micellar water is a part of my daily take the day off routine. I apply on a cotton pads (usually 2-3 per cleanse) until they come off clean. It's the best first step to my makeup removal process.

Verdict: I will always rebuy and stock it.

Filorga Time Flash Express Smoothing Primer

I really liked this primer, loved the texture and how it helped smooth my skin before applying make up.

Verdict: I would rebuy but I will use it faster as the packaging doesn't last long...

La Roche-Posay Efflaclar Duo+

I mean, this one should also feature in most of my empties reviews. I should have a monthly subscriptions to it, as I go through one every other month. My dermato loves it and I have been using it since I was a teenager living in France and battling acne. I use it as a "serum", before a moisturiser.

Verdict: I will always rebuy and stock it.

MAKEUP

Clinique 02 Smoky Brown Eyeliner

I had already written here about my love for Clinique's Brow Pencils and it is the same for their other quickliners, that are easy to use as they are automated and need no sharpening tool. How clever?! I was a heavy khol user in my early 20s and I stopped using it all over my eye when I saw an ID picture of mine where I looked like a panda. So I started only doing a small line on the outer corner of my eyes to elongate it (what I would call the lazy girl cat eye?!). I always used black pencils before and this was my first brown one, as I wanted to see how a sharper line would look and I loved it. I only found the pencil to be a bit on the dry side and it was best when first warmed on the back of my hand.

Verdict: I would rebuy but first, let me focus on the ones I purchased here...

Yves Rocher Radiant Lip & Cheek Crayon

I love multipurpose make up products - such as this Lancôme product I use on both my eye lids and cheeks - and this crayon promises action of both cheeks and lips. This was a gorgeous Apricot colours with shimmer and it made the lips come alive but the effect on cheeks would be a bit stickier. Yves Rocher is not a go-to brand for me at all and this was a gift from a friend a few years ago. It fit the purpose.