August's farewelled products (2013 edition)

Continuing with my voracious beauty consumption (and helped along by travel sizes and samples) I finished a heck of a lot of products in August! I hope you're not in a rush to get through this post.  Seriously, I was thinking of just going through all of the products with a quick yay or nay this time...

 

Skin care

75) & 76) Sasatinnie Rose Makeup Remover Wipes for Sensitive Skin (10 wipes) - Simply because of the small number of wipes in the packs I got through two packs in August. I haven't changed my mind about these wipes since last month - I still love them for their gentle effective makeup removal, the lovely rose scent and they way they leave my skin feeling lightly moisturised afterwards.  I have two packs left but I'm alternating with another brand at the moment.

77) BE Fresh Make-Up Remover Wipes With Cucumber (25 wipes) - This pack of wipes was hanging around open from before my overseas vacay so I only had a few left to finish off.   BE is a Priceline Australia skincare brand and the wipes are the first products I've tried in the line.  They're alcohol free, contain aloe and do the expected gentle but effective job of removing my makeup.  They have a good texture and feel wet enough to do a thorough job.  There are a few other varieties in the line so I think I'll take a further look.

78) Cyber Colors Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (59ml/2oz.) - I bought two bottles of this little dual-phase remover from Sasa in Hong Kong.  It's yet another dual-phase remover in an endless selection of the same - these removers are all interchangeable which is fine because I love them as long as the price is right! Would I buy it again? Sure because it was inexpensive and performs with the same effectiveness as the other brands I've tried in removing all kinds of makeup, including waterproof.

79) Biore Release Steam Activated Cleanser (147ml) - I got this mint-infused, 'steam activated', oil-free cleansing gel free with a local magazine.  The invigorating (overpowering) menthol and the steam activated cleansing beads are supposed to deeply penetrate and scream CLEAN! skin in the daily shower.  It did a good job of waking my skin up in the morning but I did find it a little too fresh and nasal-clearing for me.  This would be a better choice for those with oilier skin (and less sensitive nasal passages) than mine.

80) Skinlite Cucumber Essence Mask - I'm just getting into sheet masks and this mask was the first I tried from my Hong Kong bundle.  I don't know that I can effectively rate these yet because I am such a newbie so I'm not sure what my expectations should be!  This mask was enriched with Vitamin E, Phyto Collagen, and Cucumber extract and promised to soften skin texture and relax taut and dry skin after 15 to 20 minutes of use.  I found the mask's serum felt a little tacky on the skin even after I patted it into my face but I did wake up with soft skin the next day! These masks are an inexpensive fun way for a little enforced relaxation and a little extra skin pampering.  Next mask please!

81) YSL Forever Youth Liberator Serum (30ml/1 fl.oz) - A rare skincare indulgence for me these days! I figure serum and moisturisers are a good area to splurge on quality ingredients if I'm going to indulge so...  This serum was quite a watery formula so it absorbed well and made my skin feel instantly refreshed.  It claims to make skin look more luminous, smoother, firmer and more plump, reducing the appearance of wrinkles - everything this little middle-aged duck needs really!  It certainly did make my skin feel smooth and plumped so I'd probably buy this serum again when my wallet can justify it. 

82) L'Oreal White Perfect Laser Anti-Spot Brightening Essence (5ml) - I think skincare essences are an alternative to serums because they are applied under moisturiser.  In any case this is the first essence I've tried.  5mls went a long way and I got a week's worth of use out of the tiny sample tube.  It was enough to pique my interest too because I loved how smooth it made my skin feel and any whitening product takes more prolonged use to see real results in reducing pigmentation.  Trouble is the White Perfect Laser range isn't available in Australia! Online shopping here I go?...

83) Nivea Light Feel Daily Face Veil Lotion SPF30 (50ml) - I was using this as my everyday moisturiser/sunscreen overseas and whilst it was okay - and definitely effective as SPF protection - I don't know that it felt light enough for me as my skin did appear a little slick, more so than dewy.  At the drugstore pay point I prefer my good old Neutrogena which I've reverted to using at the moment.

84) Natio Ageless Firming Night Cream (45g/1.5oz) - I don't wear night cream every night so this tub lasted a very long time.  The goodies in it are Vitamin C, organic rosehip and evening primrose and it definitely did make my skin feel firmer without feeling greasy.  Natio is a super affordable natural skincare option I enjoy using so I wouldn't hesitate to buy more in future.

85) La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP Lipid Repleneshing Body Balm (7ml/0.2 fl.oz.) - I turned to a stash of samples in desperation when I had a winter flare-up of eczema on my neck and wrists.  I used five of these anti-scratching balm sachets and the thick unscented balm instantly soothed my prickly itchy skin.  I've now bought a massive full sized pump bottle of the stuff for skincare emergencies.  'Nuff' said.

86) La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Intense Soothing Care (5ml) - This is meant to soothe and relieve dry facial skin but, yup, I used five samples of this on my limbs too! Naughty me! Means I can't tell you what this feels like on the face but it certainly felt wonderful on my body.  Soothing and very well absorbed and left my skin feeling silky.  I'll infer from that it would probably feel good on my face too if I needed extra moisture!

87) Avon Anew Platinum Night Cream (1g) - I used this sample for a single application between jars of night cream.  I remember it made my skin feel velvety soft and absorbed well but I can't say anything beyond that.  It's targeted at the more mature market with its claims of restoring the look of sagging skin.  Maybe if my jowls start driving me to distraction I might just buy a jar to really road test it, hmm?

88) Benefit Triple Performing Sheer Oil-Free Facial Emulsion SPF 15 (sample) - This is triple performing because it "hydrates, protects and comforts..." the skin. I used this sample for a few days and really loved how it felt, and I also loved the non-greasy finish it left on my skin.  If only the SPF were higher I would snap this up for a summertime facial moisturizer.

Hand and body care

89) QV Flare Up Wash (150ml) - This is the second bottle I've finished recently as a hand wash. See my earlier empties review here.

 

90) Bandi Purity Nail Polish Remover (120ml) - I bought this Korean (Hello! It mentions Gangnam on the bottle!) green tea/jasmine scented polish remover from Bonjour in Hong Kong.  It did a good enough job of removing my nail polish, had a great spill-proof design, and I enjoyed the novelty of the scent! Gangnam style indeed!

 

91) Bath & BodyWorks Warm Vanilla Sugar Shower Gel (59 ml/2 fl.oz.) - I was obsessed with this shower gel!  The vanilla scent was delicious without being overly sweet and the lather was so rich and soft.  Love it! LOVE IT!! If anyone wants to send me some more across the seas I will be eternally grateful - I'm already eternally grateful to Liz for introducing me to this shower delight!

 

92) OPI Avojuice Ginger Lily Hand & Body Lotion (30 ml/ 1 fl.oz.) - I've used these little bottles before and find the avocado oil formula to be incredibly moisturizing and well absorbed.  I used this as an overall body moisturizer.  The ginger lily scent was a little sweet for my taste but not overpowering.

 

93) OPI Avojuice Cran & Berry Hand & Body Lotion (30 ml/ 1 fl.oz.) - Ditto my last comment. Again the scent was a little sweet.

Hair care

 

 94) John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo (44 ml/1.5 fl.oz.) - I don't normally review shampoo and conditioner because I use the same salon line month in month out but these were free with a magazine and were going to transform my fine hair right?  I liked the colourless gel shampoo formula and this cleansed my hair without leaving it feeling matted as some more detergent-like shampoos can do.  Nice soft floral scent too.

 

95) John Frieda Luxurious Volume Conditioner (44 ml/1.5 fl.oz.) - This was a thick white cream conditioner which while rich, rinsed out well, and left my hair feeling conditioned without being weighed down or limp. 

96) John Frieda Luxurious Volume Fine to Full Blowout Spray (30ml) - I'm actually more keen on trying out John Frieda's Root Booster Blow-Dry Lotion from the Luxurious Volume line because it is meant to thicken the hair strands but this one was the freebie.  I sprayed a few pumps over towel-dried hair and combed it through.  I liked the lack of stickiness and it did keep my very relaxed blow-dry in place.  I'm not a huge one for elaborate styles (my emphasis is on drying more than styling!) so I still want to try the Root Booster just to get more volume and thickness out of my no-fuss hair. 

 

Cosmetics

 

97) Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick (240 Undressed) - I've raved about Rimmel's lipsticks before and Undressed is my perfect caramel-beige nude. The Lasting Finish lippies are very pigmented and long lasting and as a lipstick lover I highly recommend them.  Honestly, these lipsticks are such good value at under 10AUD! 

 

 



Fragrance

 

98) L'Occitane Voyage En Mediterranee - Labdanum (EDP 75ml) - I am so genuinely sad to have finished this LE fragrance.  Well - almost finished.  There's one or two applications left in the bottom of the bottle I can't quite get to.  I'm going to have my husband prise open the top of the bottle because I absolutely must have the last few drops. Notes: Citrus fruits and spices, Labdanum (a woody shrub with a warm amber scent), benzoin, vanilla.

 

99) Tom Ford Sahara Noir (EDP 5ml) - This is a strange one and I always knew it was going to polarize opinions.  I grew to like it but my husband strongly disliked the rather smoky scent.  I remember it was described as an ode to incense but it more closely reminds me of wood fire.  Top notes:  "Bitter orange, Levantine cypress and cistus essence Orpur®".  Middle notes:  "Frankincence essence Orpur®, cinnamon, cool papyrus extract, rose absolute from Morocco and Egyptian jasmin with honeyed and animalic shades of beeswax from Burma".  Base notes:  "Labdanum absolute and ambreinol (an intense natural labdanum fraction), cedar, frankincense resin, benzoin, vanilla, oud and balsams".

 



And that's all for this month folks! 



June/July's farewelled products (2013 mega edition)

 

Let the purge happen before the beauty binge you're going to see in my next post!

 

Skincare

 

 

52) Johnson's Daily Essentials Fragrance Free Facial Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes) - It was so long ago I finished these that I'm a bit fuzzy on the details.  Suffice to say there wasn't anything memorable about them. They did the job of cleansing with a single wipe but I think I wasn't a big fan of the cloth texture as it was a little too slippery on my skin.

 

53) Sasatinnie Cherry Blossom Makeup Remover Wipes For Normal Skin (10 wipes) - I forgot to pack wipes when I went overseas so I bought multiple packs of these in Sasa Hong Kong, firstly because of a 3 for 2 offer, then bought some more because I loved them so much!  They border on being sudsy, and quite wet, but these well textured wipes did a thorough job of removing makeup and grime from my tired face at the end of the day and left my skin feeling soft and moisturised.  These do have a lingering soft scent so they won't be for everyone but I personally loved the relaxing floral scent on my face.

 

54) Sasatinnie Rose Makeup Remover Wipes for Sensitive Skin (10 wipes) - As above but supposedly gentler (I found the Cherry Blossom wipes equally gentle on my skin) and these have the distinct scent of rose petals. Very pretty and indulgent!

 

 

 55) Skinvitals Hydraflex Multi-Peptide Flex-Cloth Mask (sample pack) - This mask was my first ever sheet mask experience! Funny it was too because my unsuspecting son walked in on me mid-mask and jumped backwards in shock - ah well, lol! The formula promises firmer, brighter, more youthful skin.  I can't say any miracles took place in 15 minutes but I massaged the residual serum into my skin after removing the mask and woke up with soft skin the next morning so at least it provided lasting moisture. I now have a bundle of sheet masks to try from my trip - but you'll have to wait and see...

 

56) Maybelline City Rescue Total Clean! Express Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (70ml) - See May's post here for my full review.

57) Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel (50 ml) - A basic, no-frills gel formula cleanser.  I bought this to take away on vacation and it lasted the distance for 3 weeks of cleansing.  I've reviewed this cleanser previously here and felt a bit underwhelmed by it but it's one of the few travel sized cleansers in the Australian drugstore market and so I bought it for the convenience.

58) Garnier Dark Spot Corrector Daily Illuminating Moisturizer (50ml) - If you've been following my empties posts you'll know I've tried a few different anti-pigmentation products over the past few years and I've had pretty modest results.  I've moved from product to product as a result.  Well finally I think I've hit on a winner.  I had significantly pigmented patches on my cheeks after my January beach vacation and after using the dark spot corrector the patches have noticeably faded.  Noticeably faded.  If only I'd known I would have done the 'before and after' photo comparison to prove what I'm saying.  I love the convenience of this product too as it's a treatment and overall moisturizer in one.  Just so you know I'm not just blowing hot air I've bought another tube today!  

 

 

Hand and body care

 

59)  Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (1 litre) - This is my number 1 no-fuss, gentle body cleanser and my second bottle used for the year. 

 

60) QV Flare Up Wash (150ml) - I've been using this as a hand wash during the colder months to relieve the itchy eczema on my hands.  This cleansing foam is pH balanced, soap free and fragrance free and formulated to remove any bacteria that can aggravate eczema.  It can also be used in the shower or bath as an overall body cleanser although I personally prefer using it just for my hands because it's not as moisturizing as the Cetaphil cleanser. Repurchase for my seasonal eczema? Yes.

 

61) Daiso Enamel Remover (120ml) - I bought this $2.80 nail enamel remover on a whim from Daiso.  It works almost as well as my usual OPI remover although I did find it a little more drying. Probably not a great idea for a fickle nail polish wearer like me but perfectly fine if you're not removing polish several times a week and a bargain for the price!

 

62) The Body Shop Chocomania Body Scrub (200ml/7.75 oz) - Yummy stuff! This is the second tub I've used this year.  If there's one thing I could fault it's the fact that a tub doesn't seem to last long enough - but then I do scoop out very generous amounts to exfoliate my skin!

 

 

 

63) Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion (10ml sample) - I've used this moisturiser many times before and would definitely purchase it again.  It absorbs quickly, leaves skin soft and not greasy at all, and is unscented so doesn't clash with perfume.  Unfussy and reliable stuff.

 

64) Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh 24 Hr Nourishing Lotion (120ml) - I bought this travel sized lotion from Watsons in Singapore.  My opinion of Vaseline body lotions hasn't changed - I still don't love them.  The only thing I did like was the refreshing aloe scent.  The lotion itself just sits on my skin and never fully absorbs.  Proof of this was my son recoiling from touching my 'sticky' arms.

 

65) Palmer's Olive Butter Formula with Vitamin E (50ml/1.7 fl.oz.) -  Unlike the Vaseline lotion I love this stuff because it balances perfectly between being rich and being easily absorbed.  I would have been better off buying two of these little bottles instead of the Vaseline for my body moisturiser!

 

66) The Body Shop Chocomania Body Lotion (250ml/8.4 fl.oz.) - It has the same delicious chocolate scent as the body scrub.  Chocolatey but not too sickly sweet or strong so I found it quite wearable.  The lotion formula is quite thick but spreads easily for good coverage and absorbs easily too. 

 

 

67) Dermaveen Everyday Intensive Hand Cream (100ml) -  This hand cream was my bedside table overnight hand treatment.  It's formulated for dry, sensitive skin and where other hand creams can actually sting when my skin is irritated I found this one instantly soothing on my eczema inflamed hands. 

 

68) Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Therapy (25g/0.9oz) - I'm becoming quite a fan of Crabtree & Evelyn's hand creams! They're right up there for a luxe pamper because they have a silky, easily absorbed formula and a lovely range of scents.  La Source has a fresh beachy (if that makes sense), slightly salty scent and I loved carrying it as my handbag pick-me-up and an antidote to winter.  I would definitely purchase a full size tube for a treat.

 

 

Cosmetics

 

 

69) Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer (02 Nude) - My review keeps popping up on my sidebar.  This concealer is one of my favourite discount beauty products.

 

70) Essence XXXL Nudes Lipgloss (03 Nude Kiss) - I think this shade has been discontinued? Anyway I packed this natural lipgloss for my vacation and I wore it literally every day.  I loved the vanilla sugar scent, although the watery formula meant constant reapplication was necessary and it's not surprising I used it up in that time!

 

71) Rimmel 100% Waterproof Mascara (001 Black) - This is a great drugstore mascara.  Waterproof and most definitely sweat and tear-proof and it served me well through the heat and humidity of Hong Kong.  It coated my lashes evenly, and my lashes felt soft rather than crunchy.  I'm already using a backup.

 

72) BYS Minerals Naturale Compact Foundation (Sand Beige) - I'm glad I only spent $10AUD on this foundation because I've never finished a powder pan so quickly! The foundation offered light coverage (medium with primer) and was not as finely milled as many other powder foundations out there.  It's fine as a budget product but I doubt I'll repurchase.



 

Fragrance

 

 

73) Tom Ford Lys Fume EDP (1.5ml/.05 fl.oz) - Another Tom Ford sample vial, and another intoxicating scent.   The top notes are Italian mandarin, pink pepper, turmeric and nutmeg;  middle notes are white lily, ylang-ylang, Artemisia and rum;  base notes are Madagascar vanilla, labdanum, styrax and oak.  This powerful lily fragrance vaguely reminds my undiscerning nose of Dior Poison and I preferred wearing it as an after-dark scent.

 

74) Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude (1.5ml/.05 fl.oz) - I took this vial away with me on vacation because it had such a deliciously warm summer feel about it.  Such a smooth honeyed scent and yes, sensuous. Top notes are Sicilian bergamot, mandarin, black and pink pepper;  middle notes are jasmine, lily of the valley, coconut water, honey and musk;  base notes are sandalwood, vanilla, amber (all guaranteed to hook me into a fragrance), heliotrope and wood.  This is one of the most appealing fragrances I tried from EL for a long time.

 

 

If you've read this overblown post in its entirety I thank you for your patience! 

 

 

Now I'm off to sort through my HK haul pics...