u/violetshock

1. SoTrue CeraCalm Moisturiser - This is more suitable for combination - dry skin, and is much thicker and moisturising than its counterpart called CeraMine that's formulated for oily skin. It's white and thick in texture,and also moisturises for long. It spreads easily but takes a while to absorb, which is understandable owing to the thick texture. It doesn't have a strong smell and a little goes a long way too.

Rating - 5/5, WRP only if I have no other moisturiser to try

2. Arata Hair Gel - This is a beautiful, beautiful gel. It's thin but goopy, not very slimy and styles my hair beautifully. I was able to scrunch well once the hard cast was formed. The curls hold for atleast a week before they start falling apart. I loved it. I'm just sad the 150 g tube isn't available anymore, I'd surely buy it if it was available.

Rating - 10/5, WRP for sure.

3. Aqualogica Illuminate+ Hydra Gel Moisturiser with Wild Berries and Alpha Arbutin - Reviews rave about this product so I got it. It's a nice, cool gel, absorbs quickly and hydrates well. It also has a pleasant berry smell, and has Alpha Arbutin which contributes to a slight brightening effect after application as well. The 200 g jar takes a long while to finish. The packaging is colourful and pretty, but the lid is a bit bulky. If you ask me, the packaging is a bit too secure and you have to get used to opening it a certain way. The length of the lid sides is a lot; you have to lift it more after unscrewing than you would for the average cream, and you have to align the lid properly with the tub when closing it too. It bothered me a bit but only on days when I was in a hurry. The product itself is pretty alright.

Rating - 4/5, WRP if it's at a discounted rate or I have no other moisturisers to try.

4. Plum 3% Vitamin C, Peptide and Caffeine Eye Cream with Mandarin - I have under eye darkness so I bought this to use as my day eye cream, while using Beauty of Joseon Retinal Cream at night. I alternate usage because using both at the same time can weaken your skin barrier. It is thin, white and lightweight, but does require some massaging in. I can't say I've experienced some extremely drastic changes in under eye darkness, but there has been some lightening. I have a couple of backups of this, and will use them before deciding whether to continue purchasing this, as caffeine and peptide creams take time to show results.

Rating - 3/5, the jury is out on whether I'll repurchase.

5. Plum Mandarin and Vitamin C 15% serum - I've already reviewed it in my previous post, here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianPanPorn/s/t1VrurL5G2

6. Plum Lash Serum Eyeliner in shade 02 - Blue Ming - It is a pretty dark blue shade, the formula felt watery to me though. The applicator tip is made of nylon, and I'm used to applying eyeliner with a thin brush, so it was a bit hard to use because I kept poking my eyelid with it, causing watery eyes. The formula isn't thick enough to create a sharp shape (atleast for me), and it sheers out on the skin too. If you try to load your applicator with more product to combat the sheering out problem, it ends up clotting on the SIDES of the wing you are trying to make, while the wing itself sheers out. It does stay for pretty long until you wash it off.

Rating - 1/5, WNRP. I got the Lakme Insta - Eyeliner and, in my opinion, it's a much better purchase than this. The Cobalt Blue shade it has is far more vibrant and unlike anything I've ever seen in the market. It also has a brush applicator which is much more comfortable to use.

7. L'Oreal Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid - I received this as a freebie from a kind Reddit seller. Hyaluronic acid works well for my skin, and this one is transparent and watery in texture. Toward the end of its usage, the product started turning yellow and smelling a bit citrusy, I'm not sure why. It plumped my skin well and hydrated it too. However, I will not be repurchasing it as I liked the Brillare one better.

Rating - 4/5, WNRP.

8. Maybelline Baby Lips Tinted Lip Balm in shade Berry Crush - Thick, waxy and berry scented, this left a light, shiny, sheer, fresh, pink tiny on my lips that was also buildable. It's not as moisturising as I'd have liked for it to be, but it's nice under or over lipstick and quite buildable.

Rating - 4/5, WRP, I liked it.

9. Maybelline Vinyl Ink in shade Lippy - This is a beautiful warm brick red shade, that suited me a lot. Upon initial application, it felt a bit heavy, but I got used to it after a few days and also realised how much product works for me. After that, I just started swiping the doe - foot applicator at the mouth of the tube and applying. That worked better for me.

It smells like chocolate. It can also feel sticky at first, so it's important not to smack your lips together as we usually do after applying lipstick. The stickiness goes away after 15-20 minutes. It has a gloss as well that stays for well over an hour, provided you don't eat or drink anything. The gloss eventually fades but the tint remains and it is indeed long lasting.

Edit - Might I also mention that I used this as a liquid blush to help pan it quicker, and it works beautifully as a blush too. Gives a very natural and dewy finish, blends easily, and it made my look more cohesive as well.

Rating - 4/5, WRP, only if it's available at a discounted rate. It retails around Rs. 400-600 depending on the shade, and I am not sure if I want to spend that much for it. The shade is lovely and I liked the formula as well.

10. Plum Rice Water and 2% Niacinamide Hybrid Sunscreen -

I have already reviewed it here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianPanPorn/s/t1VrurL5G2

11. Parachute Advansed Body Lotion in variant Coconut Milk + Honey - It's a super lightweight, pleasant smelling lotion that spreads very easily and moisturises beautifully. It's most suited for those with oily skin, or those looking for a lightweight, non - greasy lotion. I have used this even in the peak of summer with absolutely no issue. It's super affordable as well. I'd just not say it's suitable for travel because the texture is quite liquidy and I'm not sure if the cap can hold the product well. I did tape it during travel and it was alright.

Rating - 10/5, WRP for sure

12. Scalpe Pro Anti-Dandruff Shampoo - This bad boy is a staple in my routine. I've reviewed it here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianPanPorn/s/HY2qa1QaV9

13. Aqualogica 5 Barrier+ Moisturising Hydra Gel - It's a lot like the other Aqualogica Gel I've reviewed. I didn't find any specific differences in hydration or effects on the skin between both, so you can probably go for either one. The only difference was in the smell, and I enjoyed the smell of the Berry one more. This one smelled more like a men's deo or aftershave.

Rating - 4/5, WNRP because I enjoyed the other Berry variant more.

14. Minimalist Oat Extract Gentle Cleanser - OOOOFF. What do I even say about this sweet baby? I thought I didn't like cleansers that don't foam. This sweetheart changed my mind. It's a gel like, smooth, silky texture that just melts onto your face when you add water. It cleaned my skin so effectively and beautifully without stripping it. It's the perfect cleanser for dry or sensitive skin. I was so sad when it got over. However, it's a very mild cleanser so if you have applied heavy makeup or sunscreen, please double cleanse with an oil cleanser first. It will not be able to remove those for you otherwise. If you ask me to write a sonnet on this product, I probably will. That's how much I love it.

Rating - 1000/5, WRP again and again.

15. Miniso Vanilla Lip Balm - I got my husband to buy me this because it looked cute in the store. It can moisturise but only moderately hydrate, which means it's more occlusive than hydrating. It is hard and waxy and leaves a transparent sheen on the lips. It smells like a vanilla cupcake. There's also a slight cooling sensation when you apply it on the lips, and I personally wasn't sure what to think of that.

Rating - 3/5, WNRP.

This, finally concludes the backlog of empties I had to review. Hopefully, I'll be able to review empties for the next couple of months on time and stay on track. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰

Hello everyone! I'm back again with reviews! For reference, I have combination - dry skin, living in a city with mostly cool, pleasant climate and low humidity.

1. Dermaco 5% Propylene Oil Free Moisturiser - It has a lightweight texture that sits somewhere between a liquid and gel texture. It spreads quite easily and absorbs just as well and only leaves a slight siliconey - dewy finish. It is mostly fragrance free but does have a slight chemical smell to it. I used it as my AM moisturiser and and it hydrated and moisturised my skin till the night. There was also a slight plumping, glowy effect after application.

Rating - 4/5, WNRP as I have other moisturisers to try.

2. SoTrue Cera-Mine Moisturiser - This is a milky liquid gel, spread easily, and while it hydrated my skin well, I had to layer it with a thicker cream for better moisturisation, especially during winters. This would indeed be a lovely moisturiser for oily skin types. It layers well under atleast 2 moisturisers, which I liked.

Rating - 4/5, WNRP as it alone isn't enough for my skin's needs.

3. Rangna Glycerine - I use this as DIY toner (mixed with water) and it's a very decent option for the price. A little goes a long way too. Glycerine suits my skin, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated, glowy and plump. I spray a mixture of this and water on damp skin.

Rating - 5/5, WRP

4. Set Wet Styling Gel - I have curly hair ranging from 2B - 3A and had purchased this to style my hair during travel. It was quite thick and sticky and took a long time to dry. It also didn't hold my hair well ; my curls would start opening up within 2-3 days of wash day itself.

Rating - 1/5, WNRP. Ever.

5. Satthwa Sun Protect Sunscreen - It has a liquidy texture, and spreads quite easily. It leaves a slight white cast which turns transparent after 5 minutes. I can't be sure of its efficacy as I mostly stay and work indoors, but it did hold up pretty well the few times I do go out in the sun after application. My skin burns quickly when under the sun, so I think it did its job.

Rating - 3/5, WNRP as I feel there are better sunscreens in the market.

6. Plum Body Lovin' Body Mist Hawaiian Rumba - A pleasant tropical smell, and this bottle lasted me a long while. I used it as my indoor perfume, and it lasts for about 4- 5 hours at a maximum.

Rating - 4/5, WRP but only if it's available at a discounted rate.

7. Plum Clarity Night Gel - A very light transparent greenish gel. When I say it's light, I genuinely mean it's LIGHT. It wasn't enough to moisturise my skin by itself and I either needed a copious amounts of it or another moisturiser on top for proper moisturisation. My husband also uses this, and he has the same skin type as me. It actually smoothened his skin texture a lot over a few weeks.

Rating - 4/5, WNRP though since it wasn't enough for me.

8. Plum Rice Water & Niacinamide Clear Moisture Gel Cream - This has a milky texture and is thicker than the Clarity Gel. It actually served my skin's needs well, the spreadability and absorption are both great and it doesn't leave the skin feeling clogged. This was a mini that I got for free.

Rating - 4/5, WNRP - This was a mini that I got as a freebie, but the full size is too expensive for the quantity(only 50g!)

9. Plum Mandarin and Vitamin C 15% Serum - This serum is a staple in my routine. It starts off as a transparent liquid but oxidises and slowly starts turning yellow a week after opening. It's thin and watery, and spreads very easily. There's a slight sour citrusy smell to it but that's to be expected.

I am still not entirely sure as to why I use this serum considering it oxidises pretty quickly after opening, but I'd rather have a Vitamin C serum in my routine than none at all(had my eye on Numbuzin No. 5 but ugh, it's a bit beyond my budget) . I can't say I noticed some incredibly amazing effects when using it because Vitamin C is mostly supposed to be a preventative measure, and it works very subtly, but my current routine has given me great skin and I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't fix what's not broken, right? I do still intend to sometime go a few months without using it as an experiment just to see if my skin stays the same.

It suited me, but I would still recommend you do a patch test first if you have sensitive skin, because a few people I spoke to about it mentioned it gave them bumps. So be careful.

Rating - 4/5, WRP until I find a better alternative.

10. Bioderma Atoderm Creme Ultra - Oooofff. This is my dream moisturiser and I was finally able to try it with this mini. It is soooo moisturising, not too heavy, and leaves a beautiful dewy finish. The moisturisation lasts for hours and I just love it. It sometimes smells like Fevicol, but I like it. Love this moisturiser.

Rating - 5/5, WRP, it's the GOAT for a reason.

11. Vaseline Lip Therapy, Rosy Lips - I accidentally included this in the count when it was actually an empty from December last year. I've reviewed it here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianPanPorn/s/1NiATjznDk

12. Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow - Does anyone remember the ad they launched this one with? That kid playing with his toy car and running it across his mom's friend's arm. She has dry skin, so the car leaves white marks on her arm, leading to the kid commenting on the dryness and embarrassing her. She uses this moisturiser and when the kid tries to run his car on her arm again, there are no marks and she teases the kid in a light-hearted manner. Lol.

The moisturiser stands up to its non - greasy claims, spreads quite easily, and moisturises deeply despite being light in texture. It's affordable, lasts a long time, comes with a pump mechanism and smells amaaaaazing. I applied this on my arms and legs, with special focus on my Sahara desert dry feet, and woke up with the softest skin each morning. My feet, of course, didn't soften overnight, I'll probably need urea cream for that, but it did help a lot for other areas with no calluses. It's amazing.

Rating - 5/5, WRP. I loved it.

13. Dot and Key Barrier Repair Hydrating Gentle Face Wash - This has a gel like texture, and foams. I double cleanse with cold pressed jojoba oil and use this to wash the oil off. It takes off all the oil and makeup with it, and has a mild fragrance. However, my skin did occasionally feel a bit dry after washing with it, but it didn't bother me as much as I moisturised well afterward.

Rating - 5/5, WRP.

14. Plum Cica and Hya-Betaine Vegan Mucin Face Essence - I was super intrigued about this product so I purchased it. It's hydrating, is also good for a weak barrier, and spreads quite easily on the face. It doesn't smell of anything even though it's made using fermented beans but I do occasionally catch a hint of a smell I can't describe. It's not unpleasant though, and lasts only for two seconds. It hydrated my skin well and is less stickier than COSRX snail mucin, thus making it a wonderful alternative for those who are allergic to the COSRX Snail Essence or are vegan.

Rating - 5/5, WRP if at a discounted rate.

15 and 16 - The SoTrue Cera-Mine Moisturiser and Rangna Glycerine have already been reviewed above.

17. Plum Rice Water and 2% Niacinamide Hybrid Sunscreen - A white cloudy texture that leaves a white cast on the skin when applied. The cast disappears after a while. The sunscreen is slightly moisturising as well. When I went out in the sun after application, my skin felt quite hot but did not burn. I will still advise you to do your research before purchasing this one.

Rating - 3/5, WNRP as I wasn't particularly impressed with it.

18. Plum Rice Water and 10% Niacinamide Serum - This is one of my HGs and I've reviewed it here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianPanPorn/s/6BCkWlmatc

19. Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Tint in shade Pink Prize - Oh my, what do I even say about this product? The packaging is absolutely adorable and made me feel like a fairy queen using it. The product itself is really lightweight, hydrating and doesn't feel like anything on the lips. It is completely buildable, and smells a bit dessert-y. The formula is beautiful, the colour even more so. This was such a sad pan for me and I'm waiting for when these come on sale again so I can purchase more shades. I loved it.

Rating - 5/5, WRP for sure

20. Maybelline Baby Lips in shade Anti-oxidant Berry - This is transparent but does give a slight sheen to your lips when applied, much like gloss. It is waxy and more occlusive than hydrating, and the effect does stay for atleast 3-4 hours before you need re-application. It's good in a pinch but I believe there are better lip balms in the market

Rating - 3/5, WNRP.

And that concludes my review of Empties from January and February! I'll soon upload the ones from March and April as well, so stay tuned. Thank you so much for reading! ❤️