09 June, 2015

Autumn's beauty empties...


For various reasons (travel, family illness, life etc) my blogging schedule has been out of whack over recent months and it obviously saw me lagging in posting my monthly empties too - to the point where I was half-way through May and still hadn't done the March and April posts so figured I'd might as well carry on accumulating empties for the entire Autumn season and get them all out of the way in one rather LARGE post!  

For the sake of your sanity (and mine) I'll keep the reviews light and to the point - having said that, if you want to know more about any individual product just ask away in the comments and I'll let you know what you need to know.  Okay - here we go!  The fear is real...

Skin care

23) Kirkland Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes (30 towelettes) - The second last pack in a bulk box from Costco.  More greasy than refreshing. Will not repurchase.

24) NIVEA Daily Essentials Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes (7 Wipes) - An impulse buy at the Target checkout one day and I took the pack away on our Queensland holiday.  Nice average quality wipes, with a hint of the NIVEA scent that I enjoy.

25) Swisspers Naturals Cucumber wipes (5 wipes) - I bought this on holiday after I ran out of the NIVEA.  There was nothing remarkable about these so I won't repurchase.


26) Garnier Clean Sensitive 2 in 1 Gentle Make-up Remover (200ml) - I bought this on sale at Priceline.  Not as effective as other waterproof makeup removers I've tried and for whatever reason I was always squeezing out far too much and flooding my cotton pads.  Will not repurchase.

27) Maybelline Makeup Remover Eye & Lip (70ml/2.4 fl. oz.) - Now this is one of my favourite drugstore makeup removers and it's a repeat purchase after the finishing the Garnier.

28) Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam (30ml travel size) - Another miniature product in my holiday luggage.  I'd forgotten (and was happy to be reminded) how luxurious and velvety this foam cleanser feels. 

29) La Clinica Gly C Refine Facial Cleansing Wash Gel (200ml/7.4 fl.oz)* - Despite containing glycolic acid and Vitamin C this gel cleanser was gentle enough for everyday use and lasted for months. 


30) La Clinica Perfect Complexion Sunscreen Lotion SPF50 (75ml/2.63 fl.oz)* - Very high SPF without being greasy and can be used on the face and body. I have the backup ready!

31) La Clinica Gly C Refine Vitamin C Ultra Serum (30ml/1.05 fl.oz)* - This serum provides a very immediate "tightening" effect on the skin and demands an application of moisturiser afterwards.


32) Essano Rosehip Treat Your Skin Pack*  - I took this pack away on my holiday and really enjoyed using all the products.  I've since purchased full size versions of the body lotion and cleanser.  See here for my full review.

Hand and body care

33) Miller & Moore Moisturising Shea Butter Body Wash (150ml) - This was part of a gift pack I received from a friend. It smelt faintly like NIVEA and did a suitably gentle job of cleansing in the shower.

34) Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap (236ml/8 oz.) - An exfoliating body wash gentle enough to use every day.  I will repurchase to keep my goosebumpy skin under control.

35) Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser (50ml/1.7 fl.oz) - One of my leftover souvenirs from the Tokyo Park Hyatt last year which came in handy for another trip! It's a very refreshingly green and mandarin scented gel body wash although I don't know if I'd actually fork out the big $$$ for a full sized bottle.


36) Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil Rosehip Fragrance (150ml/5.1 fl.oz)* - A quickly absorbed moisturizing oil with an almost dry oil feel. My only issue was the supposedly no mess bottle still ended up oily so I kept it in its box between uses.  See my full review here.

37) NAT.Body Hand Cream (100ml)* - My bedside hand cream.  A milky formula but surprisingly moisturising and kept the eczema under control on my hands. See my full review for this and the NAT.Body Cuticle Treatment Serum here.

38) NAT.Body Cuticle Treatment Serum (15ml)* - Very effective at moisturising my cuticles and the smallest pump dispensed enough oil to do the cuticles on both hands.


39) Love Soap Handwash With Organic Lavender & Meadowfoam (200ml) - This is formulated for children but I used it to wash my own sensitive skinned hands.  Very gentle and scented with lavender oil.  Will repurchase.

40) OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (120ml/4 fl.oz) - A regular appearance in my beauty empties.


41) L'Occitane Arlesienne Velvet Hand Cream (30ml/1 oz) - This really did feel velvety textured on application and the rose, sweet violet and saffron scent is delightfully floral.

42) Crabtree & Evelyn Nantucket Briar Hand Therapy (25g/0.9 oz) - I'm yet to come across a scent I haven't enjoyed yet from Crabtree & Evelyn's hand therapy range.  

Hair care

43) Nak Blonde Plus Shampoo (1 litre/33.8 fl. oz) - I use purple toned shampoo to keep my hair from looking too warm or brassy.  This gigantic bottle lasted me many months and I quite frankly got bored with it!

44) RPR De-clorinate My Hair Shampoo (200ml/7.04 fl.oz) - I used this once a week to remove product buildup and refresh my hair.  It was effective but I'm loving the Moroccanoil version I'm using now a lot more so I won't repurchase.

45) John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Enhancing Conditioner (250ml/8.45 fl.oz) - A good drugstore conditioner although I honestly don't know if it enhanced the blonde in any way.


46) Original Mineral Maintain The Mane Shampoo (50ml/1.7 fl.oz travel size) - This is the same stuff my hairdresser uses so I bought the smaller sized bottles to take away on holiday and try before committing to the full size.  Yes it's good salon shampoo.

47) Original Mineral Maintain The Mane Conditioner (50ml/1.7 fl.oz travel size) - As above.

48) Original Mineral O & M Original Detox Shampoo (50ml/1.7 fl. oz travel size) - I used this deep cleansing shampoo to wash my hair after swimming pool sessions during our holiday.


49) & 50) Aesop Classic Shampoo & Conditioner (50ml/1.7 fl.oz) - Yet more travel souvenirs that came in handy.  Very nice and luxurious but I'd still think hard before buying the full size products because of the price.

51) Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime Crystal Shine Conditioner (50ml/1.7 fl.oz) - I bought this conditioner on holiday when I ran out of those I'd packed.  It was just okay and not particularly moisturising so I won't repurchase.

Cosmetics


52) Blinc Eye Shadow Primer (Light Tone)* - An excellent eye shadow primer which smooths and brightens the lids, and securely anchors eye shadow through anything.  See my original review here.

53) Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (30ml) - I grew to really love this primer as the perfect everyday base which performed well under any foundation I applied.

54) Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (01) - My favourite drugstore concealer.

55) Silkygirl Magic BB Powder Foundation (01 Ivory) - I bought this from a drugstore in Singapore a couple of years ago and it gives fantastic, long lasting coverage for a powder product. 


56) INIKA Mineral Mascara (Black)* - This was okay but not great.  It took multiple coats to get any reasonable volume and didn't dry down 100% so was prone to smudging.

57) The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara (Black) - Another okay mascara.  I didn't bond with the brush so I probably won't repurchase this either.

58) Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Liner (Perversion) - I usually love these liners but this one was a huge disappointment.  The pencil core disintegrated, became crumbly and fell out so I sharpened it down to nothing.

59) Essence Matte Effect Eye Shadow (Blockbuster) - I generally love Essence eye shadows but their mattes are their weaker performers. I persisted with this as a browbone shade for quite a while but finally decided enough was enough with this chalky shadow. 


60) Revlon Lip Gloss (Nude Lustre) - Sadly this formula has been discontinued.

61) Chanel Glossimer (83) - I love the pigmentation of these glosses. I'm pretty sure this particular shade has been discontinued though.

62) Tom Ford Lip Color (True Coral) - This was my first TF lipstick so it will hold a special little place in this makeup addict's heart.

63) Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer (Rhubarb) - A great drugstore lip balm that provides a good hit of shiny colour.

Fragrance

62) Jimmy Choo Blossom EDP (2ml/0.06 fl. oz sample)* - Very fizzy, fruity and fun!  Top notes:  citrus and red fruits, including raspberry;  mid notes:  sweet peas and roses;   base notes:  sandalwood and white musk.

63) Prada L'Eau Ambree EDP (10ml miniature) - The last little bottle of one of my favourite scents and I fell in love with it all over again.  The top notes are Cedrat Lemon, Mandarin and Neroli;  middle notes are Benzoin, May Rose and Gardenia; base notes are Amber blended with Patchouli, Vanilla and Opoponax.

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If you made it all the way to the end I applaud you for your tenacity!  

Until my next, considerably shorter post...


(Products marked * were provided for my consideration.  All comments and opinions are my own.)

10 comments:

  1. Yay ! so many empties. The hand creams look so good.
    Did the Palmer's oil do anything for scars ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't really notice with my old (already faint) scars but I did notice that the oil made my skin feel more elastic so I think it would work well in preventing or minimising fresh scars. I love how it keeps my skin from feeling dry, tight and itchy in the cooler months

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  2. Nice empties! I love BB Rhubarb, haven't worn it in so long though! So many lip product empties <3 I'm glad you liked the Maybelline remover, but I actually found it didn't work for me and I was disappointed! Different strokes for different folks and all that though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BB Rhubarb lived in my makeup purse as a colourful touch up for dry lips - I need a backup actually!

      When it comes to makeup removers my all time favourite has to be Lancome Bi Facil. Nothing comes close to that one but the price is just plain and simple exorbitant!

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  3. Lol, I just had a flashback to the days when I'd empty out Hourglass Veil Mineral and SilkyGirl powders regularly. It took my skin a while to calm down after I stopped using Veil Mineral. It had some kind of an anti acne effect on me!

    As for Aesop, I became disinterested in the brand after a knowledgeable friend told me it was mostly your typical low-cost ingredients just packaged nicely. There's a kind of minimalist appeal to their aesthetics that still reels me in sometimes but the price makes me want to gouge out my eyes, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I have you to thank for both Hourglass and SilkyGirl! Lol! I'll never be the same again...

      I'm a little disappointed to hear that about Aesop but at least I take comfort in the fact that all of my Aesop bottles were free "souvenirs" from a hotel. I love the packaging too - but the prices!! *cries*

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  4. "The fear is real..." LOL, Vita! Man, I've wanted a pack of those Nivea wipes ever since they debuted overseas, but as of yet, we still don't have access to them here in the States!? Nivea has so many amazing looking products (like their little soaps! Be still my bar soap loving heart! And deodorants in glass bottles!) but we don't get a lot of them here. That Silky Girl powder always made me drool when I'd see it on your Instagram! I hope you can get another one somehow because it sounds like a stand-out. I'm interested in the Palmer's oil since you mentioned it seemed like a dry oil almost. That sounds right up my alley! Great empties post, Vita! CONGRATS on all of your makeup empties! You're killing it in the lips department! I'm so proud of all those finished glosses and lipsticks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know, I've always taken NIVEA a little for granted because it's been around my whole life! I'm glad I've had the opportunity to review some of their products lately - it's opened my eyes and reminded me why they've been around forever - they're pretty good, and I am a diehard fan of the traditional NIVEA scent too from way back!

      I"blame" Liz @Reductionista for the SilkyGirl thing but it's hands-down the best BB powder I've ever tried - I'm sure I'll be buying more when I head back to Singapore in a few months if I see it!

      Thanks for the words of encouragement too - I honestly appreciate that you were able to get through the post to the end!!!!

      Delete
  5. The lipstick!!! And I've always wanted to try the Prada Amber scent...will have to give it a sniff in store someday! They are coming out with new infusion scents, did you hear? The amande one sounds amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm excited by anything Prada releases! I love so many of their scents so I'll be looking out for the infusion scents for sure! And that lipstick....It lasted a very long time considering how much I loved wearing it. One swipe lipsticks seem to last forever :)

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