REVIEW: February's farewelled products & P10P tally

Well, I used up a whole bundle of stuff last month, and thankfully there's some makeup in there too!  I still have that obsessive fascination with how much stuff I actually use so I'm going to continue the running tally as I did last year.

Skin care

9) Olay Definity Tone Correcting Anti-Ageing Lotion SPF 15 (50ml)

Last year I was on a bit of a journey trying skin care at different price points.  I started the year using the expensive (but lovely *sigh*) Shiseido White Lucent range, then moved down to the mid priced Moisture White range by The Body Shop, and ended the year with an old drugstore faithful, Definity by Olay.  If you haven't read it in earlier posts my skin "condition" is age related pigmentation (spots).  My husband says he doesn't notice them but they bug me so my skin care of late has been targeted to prevent any worsening at least if not actually fading the pigmentation.  Right - so does this work?  Well, my spots aren't any worse and there is the added protection of SPF in the formula.  Honestly, I don't think anything over the counter - that I've tried so far - does magically fade pigmentation but at least it can prevent it.  This lotion is light enough to absorb quickly into the skin yet provides enough moisture to evenly hydrate so I don't have any dry patches on my cheeks.  It's lightly and pleasantly fragranced and the SPF doesn't irritate my my skin.  Two pumps from the dispenser provides exactly the right amount to cover my face and neck.  I've used this range before so that speaks for itself.

10) Olay Definity Tone Correcting Anti-Ageing Serum (50ml)
I like to use products from the same range to see if the results are maximised and I bought this around the same time as the moisturiser.  Same deal with the packaging - you pump the dispenser twice to get enough product for full skin coverage.  While I like this serum, it doesn't have the OMG, orgasmic, silky skin feel of some of the more expensive brands (maybe I'm a serum snob??).  Anyway, it feels nice and light on the skin and absorbs immediately so I'm not hanging around waiting to apply the moisturiser.  I've moved on again from this range, but knowing me I'll probably return to it again because I still think it's a good quality range for the money - not bad for those on a budget.

11) Maybelline Express Care Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (90ml)
This is now my makeup remover of choice.  Every bit as gentle and effective as Lancome's Bi-Facil and L'Oreal's Gentle Make-Up Remover but better priced than Lancome and much superior in packaging to L'Oreal.  Read my full review here.

12) L'Occitane Ultra Rich Lip Balm with 10% Shea Butter (5g/0.17oz)
This is quite a waxy balm and while I liked it I didn't love it.  It has a pleasant, almost vanilla smell and taste and does soften the lips but the tube itself didn't last long at all.  I applied this once a night just before going to sleep and the tube lasted just over a month.  Considering I can buy other similar quality products at a fraction of the $14AUD price I won't rush to buy this again.

Hand and body care

13) The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand  Cream SPF 15 (30ml/1.0 fl.oz)

I absolutely loved this and will be buying the full sized 100ml tube as soon as I work my way through my current backlog of hand creams!  Read my full review here.

14) OPI Polish Remover (non-oily, moisturizing formula 120ml - 4fl.oz)

My second bottle for the year already! It is as it says, non-oily but non-drying.  Good for nail polish obsessed women like me although perhaps a little expensive at around $10AUD per bottle.

15) OPI Drip Dry (9ml/0.3fl.oz)
 I've been using these drops to dry my polish ever since a work colleague recommended this to me.  As the formula contains jojoba and Vitamin E a few drops speed dry my manicure and moisturise my cuticles at the same time.  As with the OPI remover, the only issue with this is the price as it retails at around $23.95 per bottle. 


16) Sukin Body Scrub (200ml/6.76fl.oz)
This creamy and gentle exfoliating scrub is organic, not tested on animals and is guaranteed to contain none of the following nasties:   sulphates, animal derivatives, harsh detergents, petro-chemicals, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, triethanolamine, mineral oils or parabens.  It relies on the physical exfoliating properties of ground walnut shell and bamboo rather than AHA's.  Because it is so gentle I found I had to be a bit vigorous scrubbing this onto my skin and it wasn't as effective in reducing my keratosis as an AHA scrub.  Whilst it wasn't the best for treating my own skin condition I still think this would be a good gentle exfoliant to try for normal skin or dry, sensitive skin.

Fragrance

17)  Versace Bright Crystal EDT (30ml/1.0fl.oz)

I bought this late last year as the perfect summer holiday fragrance to take away on vacation.  I loved the light crisp fruity floral scent and the bottle design appealed to my girly side with the crystal-shaped stopper.  For those who want to know the top notes are pomegranate, yuzu and iced accord, middle notes are magnolia, lotus and peony with base notes of vegetal amber, musk and mahogany.

18) YSL Opium EDT (7.5ml travel size)

A very old favourite of mine because it's a sexy and heady oriental. I finished a full size EDP of this fragrance last year and this was the tiny travel size bottle I was savouring since then.  This fragrance has staying power and isn't for the fragrance-shy with its notes of mandarin, bergamot, lily of the valley at the top, middle notes of jasmine, carnation and myrrh, and base notes of vanilla, amber, sweet myrrh and patchouli.

Cosmetics (Project 10 Pan)

These two empties mean I've almost reached half-way with P10P.  Six more empties to go - I only wish I could finish off some of my lipsticks rather than just the lip glosses!

19)  Bloom Lip Gloss (Sweet Pea)

It doesn't look completely finished but trust me this is - I cannot get another bit of gloss out of the tube! I loved wearing this mauve gloss  because it was the perfect MLBB shade (see here for swatch and full review) and I'm a fan of the vanilla and mandarin oil scent.  This is the second of my lip glosses done for the year - three more to go to finish my lip gloss ban!

20) L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagene Waterproof Mascara (Black)

I really loved this waterproof mascara because the large hourglass shaped brush gave my lashes tons of volume and the formula would not budge until I removed it.  I've read reviews where others have experienced flaking and clumping but I didn't experience any flaking whatsoever and the mascara only started to clump when it was several months old and starting to dry out.  It lasted through two beach holidays and several trips to the gym.  Great drugstore waterproof mascara and I would definitely repurchase this.

That's it for February's empties.  How did you go this month?

Vita :)