November's farewelled products (2013 edition)

I don't have much to say by way of introducing this post although I suppose it feels like November was skincare month for me because I got through a lot of it...

 

 

Skin care

 

125) Vanedo Beauty Friends Raspberry Essence Mask - Expect to see sheet masks popping up every month from now on because I have a new skincare addiction and I've recently replenished my stock!  This particular mask claimed to be firming and brightening and I certainly did notice a comfortably firming effect while I was wearing the mask and for a little while afterwards.  I love the Vanedo brand of sheet masks although they've been a bit difficult to source online so far.

 

126) Skinlite Green Tea Essence Mask - I know the Skinlite range of sheet masks can be purchased via the Sasa website.  This green tea essence mask also claims lifting properties but I didn't particularly notice, although it was hydrating so I guess I'd score it a 5 out of 10.  Nice but not remarkable.  See I am starting to get picky about these finally!

 

127) BE Fresh Make-up Remover Wipes For Sensitive Skin (25 wipes) - This is the second variety of wipes I've tried from this Priceline brand (see my previous experience here).  Although these are for sensitive skin and are fragrance free, they do contain alcohol - not an issue for me but possibly worth noting for some of you.  Anyway they did a perfectly good job of removing my makeup so I would repurchase if I wasn't still on my journey of trying every different makeup wipe in sight!

 

 

128) Maybelline City Rescue Total Clean! Express Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (70ml) - This is the third bottle of Maybelline's City Rescue Total Clean! I've used this year which means a couple of things: 1) I like it; but...  2) The 70ml bottle's a little small for this makeup junkie!

 

129) Pond's Flawless White Ultra Luminous Serum (30ml) - Serums are always so dang small in volume aren't they? I inevitably finish the serum first when I'm using an entire skincare range so of course this happened.  I don't think I'd ever tried a Pond's product until they brought out the Flawless White range this year - anyway, the serum is one of those slightly velvety, almost silicone feeling products that slides onto the skin making it feel instantly smooth.  Apart from it feeling nice I can't say that I noticed any remarkable changes in my skin's appearance so I won't be repurchasing. 

 

130) Neutrogena Healthy Defence Daily Moisturiser SPF 30+ (40ml) - One of my old faithful SPF moisturisers and a repeat purchase because of its high SPF and light, non-oily formula. 

 

 131) Dior Capture Totale Multi Perfection Concentrated Serum (3ml sample) - Another teaser from my little collection of Dior skincare samples this serum is meant to "intensely correct even the most deep-set visible signs of aging".  It's a light gel fluid, quickly absorbed and left my skin feeling refreshed.  Indulgent but tempting all the same. 

132) Dior Capture Totale Multi Perfection Crème (3ml sample) - As with the serum this is an anti-aging product. A very easily absorbed daily moisturiser with a lovely gentle scent.  A nice teaser as above!

133) La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Extreme Fluid SPF 50+ (3ml sample) - This facial sunscreen is suitable for oily and acne prone skin so I expected it to be more matte than it was.  A good product in terms of its high protection factor but be warned:  more powdering of the T-zone is necessary!

 

 

Hand and body care

 

134) The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Hand Cream (30ml/1.0 Fl.oz) - I loved this little tube of rich, almost edible scented hand cream a little too much because I used it up so quickly, applying it at every opportunity.  Just how yummy does it smell?  Well, the deliciously sugary vanilla scent was so irresistible that my work colleague had to buy a tube too! The 30ml tube is the perfect handbag size so I would definitely repurchase this for moisturising my hands on the go.

 

135) OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (120 ml/4 Fl.oz) - This remover promises "superior performance" and, well, it works - I'd have to do some kind of comparison trial to tell exactly how much better this is than the original!  Even though it is slightly more expensive than the original formula I'll be sticking with this now that I've discovered it because I feel it does a better job of dissolving nail polish with less wiping or rubbing necessary. 

 

136) Garnier Bodytonic Sugar Scrub (200ml) - This scrub is a repurchase after a long break.  It does a reasonable job of exfoliating and I like the citrus scent as a morning wake me up and the ease of application from the tube.  Also being a sugar scrub means it's easily rinsed off and doesn't leave any pesky granules in the shower.  Not a bad drugstore option so I can see I'll buy it again when the mood strikes. 

 

Fragrance

 

137) Tom Ford Café Rose EDP (1.5ml/.05fl.oz) - I have collected quite a few TF sample vials and I've been stupidly torn between hoarding them and using them - the problem being, what if I love a particular scent? And then of course it'll be prohibitively expensive and I'll be pining over it because I've used it all up.  Oh well, I've decided I'm just going to use them and risk that broken heart.  Café Rose was one to break my heart a little because I enjoyed how it was clearly rose but with a distinctly spicy, incense slant. The top notes are saffron, black pepper and may rose; middle notes are Turkish rose, Bulgarian rose and coffee; base notes are incense, amber (the note I come back to again and again), sandalwood and patchouli.

 

138) Bulgari Mon Jasmin Noir EDP (50 ml/1.7 fl.oz) - Okay so this one has broken my heart to finish largely because it was a gift from my husband.  I'm considering holding onto the bottle as a keepsake for that reason and for its elegance.  This fragrance was a bit of a sleeper for me - initially I felt it was too straightforward floral jasmine but there is also a slight woodiness about it which gives it that little bit of interest.  The notes are:  lily of the valley, sambac jasmine, musky nougatine, vibrant wood.

 

 

So that's it for November's empties.  I was considering a video post too but it's been a little too hectic around here to coordinate! 







January's farewelled products (2013 edition)

It's already the beginning of my third year recording and sharing my thoughts on those emptied beauty products!  Last year I was on a mission to use up 100 products - this year I'm just going ease back, relax and not let myself get stressed about the numbers. On a silly, slightly random note, man, I do have an ugly bunch of products this month. It looks like the proverbial pile of rubbish. Not that it's how I feel about the actual products though...

Skin care

1. Neutrogena Night Calming Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (25 towelettes) - I finished this pack almost a month ago, way back at the start of January.  These towelettes don't just cleanse off the makeup but apparently also have a "unique calming fragrance" to help "unwind" and prepare you for a "good night's sleep". Hmmm...I can't say I noticed anything remarkable in that department! Yes, they did have a pleasant scent but I don't think I felt any more zen than usual.  Besides that the wipes did perform well in the makeup removal department and because they're alchohol-free and felt quite moisturising I didn't need any night cream afterward. Not bad.

2. L'Oreal Youth Code Luminosity Hydrating Day Cream (50ml) - Although called a day cream, this can be used for day and evening to improve and even out skin tone.  I didn't realise how effective this was at correcting my complexion until I went away on holiday and left the jar at home - my cheek pigmentation became noticeably worse when I stopped using it!  I'm currently working my way through my backlog of facial moisturisers (and targeting spot removers) but I can definitely see myself coming back to this cream in future.

3. Face of Australia Purifying Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes) - I bought this pack for the bargain price of $4.  These alchohol-free wipes were as effective as any and non-drying.  A great budget option (other than baby wipes I guess?) and - while they are a little smaller than some of the other wipes on the market - for the price I don't think it matters if I occasionally had to use two to remove heavy makeup.

Hand and body care

4. OPI Original Polish Remover (120ml - 4 fl.oz) - My only criticism of this remover will be the price at $9.90 per bottle, or per month for me. 

5. Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender Age Defying Hand Remedy (100ml - 3.4fl.oz) - Whoa, with a name like that this hand cream promised a lot! I find lavender a very soothing scent so I used this hand cream as my overnight hand treatment.  The texture and appearance actually weirdly reminded me of antiseptic cream but the Vitamin C & E and shea butter formula absorbed quickly and did a great job of moisturising.  And the scent - I've always loved old-fashioned lavender so it was a perfect fragrance for drifting off...

6. Dove Visible Beauty Nourishing Body Lotion (50ml travel size) - I used this little lotion on holiday.  I found it very light and easily, instantly absorbed.  The pleasant fruit scent evaporated away and my sun-dehydrated skin felt silky and not at all greasy.  Because the lotion spread so easily and provided great coverage the small bottle lasted surprisingly well. 

Fragrance

7. Estee Lauder Pleasures Exotic EDT (7ml) -  I'm a bit of a fan of the original Pleasures and the sweet Pleasures Delight spin-off but I wasn't as enamored by the sharp edge to this variation.  Top notes:  Pink Grapefruit & Mango.  Middle notes:  Green leaves, Peony, Hibiscus, Lychee & Cassis.  Base notes:  Sandalwood, Amber & Violet Woods.

That's January 2013 summed up!

Vita :)

REVIEW: December's farewelled products & the 2012 tally!

Finallyyyyyyy!!!! My last empties for last year!  I'm going to try and keep it brief -

Skin care

128) L'Occitane Cleansing Refreshing Cloth with Shea Extract (Sample)

I don't have much to say about this because the sample pack contained only a single wipe.  It did cleanse my skin gently without any tightness but there was nothing remarkable about it other than me knowing it contains shea extract.  I can't find any further information on these on the L'Occitane website so I don't have any idea how they would compare to other products in terms of price, and further research suggests these may only be available as hotel amenities rather than for general retail.

129) Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover (112 ml)

I bought a bottle to try after seeing it on lovely Larie's blog because it's another one of those dual-action makeup remover formulas that I'm so addicted to.  It was just as effective as my usual Maybelline remover, taking off waterproof mascara easily and without any tears - what I didn't like is the open necked bottle, and yes clumsy me did manage to spill it once.  Good product, minus the non spill-proof packaging.

130) Nivea Soothing Cleansing Mousse for Dry & Sensitive Skin (150ml)

I totally enjoyed using this soft mousse cleanser and my skin felt moisturised after rinsing it off in my morning shower.  If I had to fault it in any way I'd say it wasn't travel-friendly but honestly, I just loved it! See a more detailed review here.

131) Bloom off, off and away cleansing wipes (24 wipes)

This was my second pack simply because of they were a bargain at 3 bucks but I wouldn't buy these at full price.  My full review is in my November post here.

Hand and body care

131) Puretopia Glowingly Smooth Body Polish (200ml/6.8 fl.oz.)

This was like exfoliating with scented river sand!  It did an average job of exfoliating my skin and made a heck of a mess in my shower - granules everywhere! Buy this again? No.

132) OPI Original Polish Remover ( 120ml/4fl.oz) - I guzzled my way through 11 bottles of this brand of remover in 2012!

133) Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (1 litre) - My everyday in-shower cleanser - I finally upgraded to the jumbo bottle! This was my 5th bottle of Cetaphil for the year.

Cosmetics

134) Revlon Wet/Dry Shadow Quad (Tickled Pink LE) - This vintage Revlon quad comprised four shimmery highlight shades so I used it every other day. Not surprisingly, it's gone!

135) Revlon Lip Butter (Peach Parfait) - I got caught up in the lip butter hype and bought a few of these. Peach Parfait was my favourite because of its soft pink/peach shade and yep, I literally wore through it like butter too, actually disconcertingly fast for a lip product so I don't think these tubes are great value for money because they wear down so fast. The fuss about these has since been overtaken by Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains - and they ARE worth the hype in my opinion.

136) Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (Pinkerbelle) - I was sad to see this pretty blue-toned pink lipstick go because it was another LE.

137) Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara (Waterproof - Black) - Good, genuinely waterproof formula for a natural-looking lash look but I hated the prickly brush!

And that's it for the year - somehow I used up 137 products compared to 2011's total of 96 and well exceeded my goal of 100 empties. To satisfy my own curiosity mainly, here's the detailed breakdown by category (includes sample sizes):
Skin care:

• 11 x packs of cleansing wipes
• 7 x cleansers
• 6 x bottles of makeup remover
• 6 x moisturisers
• 3 x serums
• 3 x lip balms
• 2 x facial sunscreens
• 1 x night cream

Hand and body care:

• 13 x bottles of nail polish remover
• 8 x bottles of body lotion
• 8 x tubes of hand cream
• 7 x bottles of body cleanser
• 4 x body exfoliants
• 4 x bottles of top coat
• 3 x body creams
• 2 x bottles of nail polish drying drops
• 1 x bottle of base coat
• 1 x bottle of nail colour
• 1 x cuticle treatment
• 1 x bottle of hand wash
• 1 x tube of foot cream
• 1 x dry shampoo
• 1 x hair volumising spray
• 1 x pack of soap sheets

Fragrance:

• 5 x sample/travel size bottles or vials
• 3 x full size bottles 

Cosmetics:

• 9 x lip glosses
• 7 x lipsticks
• 6 x tubes of mascara
• 5 x concealers
• 3 x eyeshadows
• 1 x translucent pressed powder
• 1 x powder foundation
• 1 x powder blush
• 1 x lipliner pencil
• 1 x eyeliner pencil

Whew! That is IT for now!

 

Vita :)

 

REVIEW: October's farewelled products

It probably sounds crazy but every time I have a few days off from work it seems like I have less time for the quieter pastimes like blogging - there's just way too much other stuff to do with the family!  We're nearing the end of a 4 day long weekend down here, hence my mini absence and the explanation for the lateness of the empties post.  Well, here it is now and I've surprised myself again with the amount of products I managed to finish over the past month...

Skin care

101) Neutrogena Healthy Defence Daily Moisturiser SPF 30+ (40ml)

This is my favourite facial sunscreen because it's light enough to go over my usual moisturiser without leaving my face feeling like an oil slick.  For my original review click here.

102) Maybelline Express Care Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (90ml)

Out of curiousity (and just so I don't rest on my beauty laurels) I'm currently trying out another product but I already know I'll return to this budget makeup remover.  See my original review here. 

103) Avene Eau Thermale Extremely Gentle Cleanser (200ml)

This soothing cleanser saved my skin from burning, raw irritation (here) so I can only sing its praises too.  I would certainly repurchase if my skin has another bout of sensitivity. 

104) Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes (30 towelettes)

While I liked the cucumber and aloe scent I didn't love these wipes as much as I'd expected to because my skin actually felt a slightly tight and tingly after using them and I had to use a night cream afterwards.  I probably won't repurchase.

105) Missha M Signature Real Complete B.B Cream Cleansing Tissue (sample pack)

I have no idea what the ingredients are in these wipes because it's all written in Korean!  Yes, these wipes are made of delicate tissue, rather finer than the usual thicker material and they have a rather unusual, albeit not unpleasant scent about them.  They gently wiped away my makeup and I didn't feel tight after using them so that's a plus.  I have no idea on price etc after searching online so I'm a bit up in the air as to whether I'd actually go to the effort of buying a pack!

Hand and body care

106) OPI Nail Lacquer (Kalahari Khaki)

This was my first ever bottle of OPI polish so I feel a bit sad about getting rid of it.  It was used just about all the way to the bottom of the bottle so I can't complain about that!

107) OPI Original Polish Remover ( 120ml/4fl.oz)

My ninth bottle for the year. 

108) Natio Lavender and Rosemary Hand and Nail Cream (75ml/2.5fl.oz)

Natio is one of my favourite local skin care brands and this product was another winner for me. I loved the natural oil scent of this hand cream and how well it absorbed into my skin.  The 75ml tube is a good size for the handbag too so I would easily repurchase this one!

 

109) L'Occitane Ultra Rich Shower Cream with 5% Shea Butter (250ml/8.4 fl.oz) 

Oh how I looooved this stuff - so divinely creamy on my skin in the shower, and it has that wonderfully slightly nutty scent about it! Damn shame about the price cos I hate the idea of washing $30AUD of product so quickly down the drain.  I tried to make it last as long as possible by alternating with my Cetaphil cleanser so it took me a couple of months to finish, but still I'd hesitate before buying it - until I feel like another skin care splurge anyway (Gah!) 

 

110) Dove Silky Nourishment Body Cream (300ml)

The only criticism I have about this fluffy, instantly absorbed and divinely scented body cream is that it doesn't also come in a tube so it doesn't travel well - a shame because I'd love to take this budget beauty everywhere! A definite repurchase.  My full review is here.  

 

Cosmetics

111) Essence Silky Touch Blush (10 adorable)
I actually finished a blush pan! Woo-hoo! I wore this little blush almost everyday to work because it was such a soft, natural shade for me. It did need a touch up after lunch but for a product which costs a mere few dollars that is not much of a complaint really. The only reason I won't repurchase is I have "magically" accumulated quite a few blushes over the past year or so. For full review and swatches click here.

112) YSL Touche Eclat (Sample)
Using this illuminating concealer again reminded me why I'd used it for so many years - it's actually pretty good as a multi-tasker as it brightened my under eye area and provided enough coverage for areas with light redness. Ultimately the problem is the price - At $55AUD a tube this is enough to pay for three of my Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealers! Granted the Maybelline's not packaged in a gorgeous gilt tube but it-does-the-job. Maybe next time I travel overseas I'll consider the YSL as a duty-free indulgence but for now I'm happy doing without.

 

Fragrance

113) Herve Leger Femme EDP (50ml)
I don't normally buy my fragrance from Avon but this one wasn't too bad, although perhaps a little too sugary sweet for me to wear every day.  It's a woody-floral fragrance with notes of "...Chinese Magnolia, Sicilian pink grapefruit, orange blossom, honeywood, hot benzoin tears (what?!?), cypress and vanilla." In terms of the packaging I do like the bandage bottle design which is synonymous with Herve Leger.

So, that's it for another month of beauty consumption!

Vita :) 
 

REVIEW: Neutrogena Healthy Defence Daily Moisturiser (SPF 30+)

 "Don't forget the sunscreen..."  These lyrics from Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) keep looping around in my head as I think about this post.

Sunscreen's the last step of my daily skin care routine and it's a step I'm a little fussy about.  My skin's a bit of a multiple personality in its own right - it can be a little oily, a little dry, a little sensitive OR all of the above at once.  I have to be careful not to overload it with anything too astringent, too oily or potentially irritating.  I've had mixed experiences with sunscreen products making me greasy and shiny or just giving me allergies so after finding a good facial sunscreen from Neutrogena I intended to stick to it, until they went and changed it on me - or did they??

Introducing the new facial sunscreen from Neutrogena:

Healthy Defence Moisturiser (SPF 30+)

 It was the word 'moisturiser' in Neutrogena's new product that worried me because the original product was intended to be used as the last step after moisturising.   I was free to use whatever moisturiser I chose,  topping with the sunscreen and my skin never felt overloaded or greasy.

So what exactly is different?

L-R:

New:  Neutrogena Healthy Defence Daily Moisturiser (SPF 30+)

Original:  Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 30+)

The bottles look very similar but the directions for usage on the back are quite different.  According to the old Ultra Sheer's usage directions:  "Ultra Sheer LIGHT-WEIGHT sunscreen SPF 30+ can be used as the last step of your skincare routine after moisturising or use as a makeup base" while the new Healthy Defence, "Works well alone, under make-up or over a serum." and has an added blend of Vitamins E, A and C which absorb "quickly to instantly hydrate..." the skin.  Ah yes, you also get an extra 10 ml of product so the same size bottle now holds 40ml of lotion.

But -  Hello! The active ingredients in the old product...

...are exactly the same in the new product.

Being the stubborn Taurean I am I used Neutrogena's new Healthy Defence over my usual moisturiser exactly the same way as Ultra Sheer and Ta-Da! found no problem with greasiness - it didn't take any longer to absorb and didn't feel different at all really.  The added moisturising ingredients and the similar light-weight formula just mean I now have the freedom to choose to wear my own moisturiser under this or if I'm in a hurry (or just plain lazy) I can use this alone and my skin will still feel hydrated.

Pros:

• Lightweight milky lotion absorbs easily into the skin
• A little product goes a long way
• Can be used alone, under make-up or over your usual skincare
• Non-comedogenic
• Non-greasy
• No unpleasant fragrance
• Two formulas available for normal/combination or combination/oily skin
• SPF 30+ broad spectrum to protect against both UVA & UVB rays
• Reasonably priced at around $17AUD for a 40ml bottle

Cons:

• For me there are none - I'd only be wary if you are allergic to any of the listed active sunscreen ingredients

Would I repurchase this?

Yes absolutely.

Until next time 

Vita :)