Empties! January 2016

It feels like only a week ago that I posted my final empties for 2015! In reality it's been more like 3 weeks but this year seems to have got off to a flying start. Well, I'm at it again because I want to throw out this lot before I start accumulating the February stuff! 

As mentioned in my "I'm Cruelty Free!..." post I'm working at using up my non-CF products as well so these will be included in my empties. If you're only interested in my thoughts on the animal-friendly products look for those marked CF.  Oh yes, I'm not going to bother numbering every single empty this year but I will be keeping a running tally on my makeup empties to see how close I can get to 50 in my 2016 makeup use up challenge! Here we go with my first installment of 2016. I haven't finished any skin care yet so it's straight into...

Hand and body care

L'Occitane Arlessiene Shower Cream (70ml/2.3 fl.oz) - It's so sad that L'Occitane is not cruelty free because I love their products. This shower cream was no exception with its exquisite scent and velvety foam.

Mukti Botanique Wash Desert Lime & Lemon Verbena (100ml/3.5 fl.oz) CF/V - Yes this locally made wash is Vegan too! I originally bought it as a hand wash but swapped to using it as a body wash, then fell utterly in love with it. A tiny amount lathers up in the shower puff or sponge and makes for a refreshingly zingy shower experience! I will definitely repurchase this in a larger size if available.

MOR Body Butter (Italian Blood Orange) CF - This body butter had a fantastic orange sherbet scent but - of course - it's been discontinued so that's the end of that!

Miller & Moore Moisturising Shea Butter Body Lotion (150ml) - This was part of a gift set I received some time ago and actually did an okay job as it absorbed quickly to moisturize my arms and legs.

L'Occitane Zesty Lime Hand Cream (30ml/1 fl.oz) - I actually didn't care for this particular zesty fragrance as it reminded me too much of grated rind.

Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks Island Living Spider Lily Hand Therapy (25g/0.9 fl.oz) - I only recently found out that C & E are no longer cruelty free so once I run through my current stash of hand creams these will be off the shopping list too. It's a shame because I really loved them and this was a very lovely, delicate white floral scented cream.

Hair care

Thann Aromatic Wood Aromatherapy Conditioner (30ml/1 fl.oz) CF - Just a little something I took away from the Raffles Hotel in Singapore I believe.  I grabbed it out of my travel bag to use while waiting for my next online hair care delivery and it served its purpose, preventing my hair from becoming tangled and snarled after washing. It has a nicely unobtrusive unisex orange, tangerine and nutmeg oil scent.

Original Mineral Hydrate & Conquer Conditioner (350ml/11.8 fl.oz) CF - I was worried this thick - and I mean really thick like a treatment - conditioner would weigh down my hair but it worked more like a volumising product. The combination of natural oils in the formula makes it smell rather deliciously like vanilla too!

L'Oreal Elnett Satin Very Volume Hairspray (55g/75ml) - It was good but not exceptionally great so reapplications were necessary. That's the last of my non-CF hairspray done!

Cosmetics

1) bareMinerals Marvellous Moxie Lipstick (Speak Your Mind) CF - I loved, loved, loved this lippy for its shade and formula!  There's nothing like a great everyday pink so a repurchase is planned in the near future.

2) NYX Mosaic Powder (Plummy) CF - I always wore the colours swirled together for naturally flushed looking cheeks all year round.  I'd probably repurchase if I wasn't drowning in blush!

3) Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara (Black) - To quote my instagram post, this mascara isn't meant for thickening but it did a great job of defining my lashes for a natural look.

4) Benefit Her Glossiness (Didn't Hear It From Me) - A milky gloss that's been discontinued.  I think I got it as a magazine freebie a couple of years ago.

Fragrance

L'Occitane Arlessiene EDT (7.5ml/.25 fl.oz) - Oh I'm feeling too lazy to try and describe this so here's the info from Fragrantica:  "[The top notes are]...the freshness of mandarin and the peppery character of saffron flower in bloom. The heart captures rose from Grasse complemented by lily of the valley. Violet at the base is accompanied by milky sandalwood, blonde woods and tonka bean."

Penhaligon's Elisabethan Rose EDT (50ml/1.7 fl.oz) - Penhaligon's isn't PETA or Leaping Bunny accredited but they state the following on their website:  "We have removed all animal by-products from our cosmetic formulations, including all fragrances, bath & shower gels, bath oils, hand & body creams, soaps, balms, talcum powders, shaving products and deodorants. These products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans."  I've also read they have recently been approached by vegan beauty and lifestyle website Logical Harmony to clarify their CF status so fingers crossed! Now onto the fragrance itself which is the purest old fashioned rose scent I've ever owned, and my husband forever complimented me on it.  The top notes are aldehydes and geranium; middle notes are chamomile, violet and rose; base notes are amber, musk and sandalwood. It is indeed old fashioned but delightful!

That's it until next month!


(All products in this post were purchased by me.)

August's farewelled products (and Beauty Diet update)

Ah the irony - another unattractive pile of empty products I've used in my mission to make myself more beautiful...

 

Skin care

 

81) Maybelline Makeup Remover Eye & Lip (70ml/2.4 fl. oz.) - Maybelline have gone and repackaged and reformulated again and have reverted to the blue and clear dual-phase liquid.  It does a perfectly gentle job of removing my eye makeup, and even if it's not quite as effective as Lancôme Bifacil (which I keep saying is too expensive) I'll be buying another bottle soon because it's a handy size for travel and it's cheap!

 

82) Kirkland Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes (30 towelettes) - Damn, I'm getting a bit bored of these now but I still have a few packs to go.  One really annoying thing was a packaging fail:  the resealable lid came away from the pack so that makes me reluctant to take these away on my upcoming trip.

 

 

83) Pond's Flawless White Lightening Day Cream (50g) - This was the biggest disappointment of the year because I NEVER GOT TO USE IT. The expiry date is February 2015 but the cream had separated into a solid mass surrounded by watery liquid.  I gave it one valiant, stupid try but realized applying this grainy stuff was a risky prospect so washed it off and tossed the jar into my empties bag.  I don't have a sales receipt to exchange the product and after that experience I don't want to repurchase it.

 

84) & 85) La Clinica White Brilliant Intensive Correction Hydrating Day Cream (50ml/1.76 fl. oz. and 10ml sample size)* - I've used this day cream as part of the White Brilliant routine and it penetrates quickly, making my sleepy skin look just that little bit more radiant in the morning.  My pigmentation which is still my primary skin concern hasn't deteriorated so that's comforting.  Of course I wish I could completely eliminate my pigmentation but I'm not at the point of resorting to Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments just yet and anything that keeps me away from that point is a good thing.

 

Hand and body care

 

86) OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (120ml/4 fl.oz) - My seventh bottle and counting.  I couldn't get a full size bottle recently so I've resorted to a tiny travel size.  That tells you (and me) what I think about this remover. 

 

87) MOR Snow Gardenia Hand & Body Wash (500ml) - This bottle moved from the shower to the hand basin after a while only because it's so big and my caddy was getting crowded! A very heady floral scent, luxuriant in lather, and lasted an eternity so I enjoyed it both for showering and for washing my hands.  MOR never skimp on their fragrances and this is no exception.   

 

 

88) Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado, Olive & Basil Hand Therapy (25g/0.9 oz. travel size) - A beautifully "green" scent and one of my many C & E hand creams.  I'll tell you again why I'm a fan:  these hand creams are rich in scent, rich in moisture without being greasy, and gentle on my sensitive skin.

 

Cosmetics

 

This will be my last beauty diet update before I head off for my Japan-Hawaii trip next week!  Sophie, Anissa, Norlin are planning to continue for the rest of the year so I may well be resuming when I get back.  I've been a little obsessed with makeup decluttering and downsizing YouTube videos lately so my attitude to makeup shopping is changing - maybe?

 

89) L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Powder (Medium Skin) - This is the month for fails it seems because this was another packaging fail.  Cosmetic companies please take note: Clear plastic packaging just doesn't stand up to everyday wear and tear because it's just too brittle! I can't carry a powder pan in my makeup bag once the lid has broken off now can I? Getting off that particular soapbox the powder itself offered less coverage than I've come to expect from a bb powder and it didn't work well for mattifying either so I won't be repurchasing.



90) MAC Cremesheen Lipstick (Modesty) - A great mauve-nude MLBB lipstick with a creamy, glossy finish.  Love.

 

91) Wet n Wild Coloricon Trio (Walking On Eggshells) - The perfect palette for everyday with its combination of ivory, warm pink and golden brown shades.  I'm not feeling too sad this time because I have a backup!



 

Fragrance

 

91) Tom Ford Rive D'Ambre EDP (1.5ml) - Weirdly enough this came in a Plum Japonais holder so I was almost disappointed until I smelled the rather crisp, zesty fragrance.  A lighter, easier to wear daytime fragrance from the TF wardrobe and I wasn't at all surprised to read this is unisex.  Notes are:  citruses, amber, bergamot, lemon, bitter orange, tarragon, mint, cardamom, cognac and tolu balsam.

 

 

So that's it for another episode of empties!

 

 



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







April's farewelled products (and beauty diet update)

Here we are again with another load of empties.  Let's see if I can talk about these without getting too wordy...

 

Skin care

 

34) Kirkland Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes (15 towelettes) - Something happens to me whenever I go to Costco.  I always get caught up in the multi-pack mentality so without ever trying them before I bought a massive box of these!  They're not the best wipes I've tried but they're not the worst either.  They actually smell quite refreshing and one wipe is usually enough to take off the day's makeup base.  They seem to be quite heavily laden with moisturiser which my skin will probably appreciate more as the weather gets colder. Expect many more of these empty packs to pop over the months because as I said, I bought an entire box!

 

35) Montagne Jeunesse Cucumber Peel-Off Masque - I bought this on a whim to treat my slightly oilier than usual skin and it worked! My post-vacation skin was a little oily and congested so I spread this on, and (very easily) peeled it off 20 minutes later. My skin immediately felt cleaner and the next morning I noticed my forehead bumps were visibly diminished.  I've bought some more of these to keep on hand for those times I need a more clarifying mask - and when I just feel like a little bit of fun!

 

 

 

36) La Clinica Gly C Refine Gentle Facial Cream Cleanser (10ml/0.35 fl.oz sample size) - One of my travel bag products.  This cream cleanser is a great balance of rich creaminess with skin smoothing Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C.  First impressions of this product is it felt gentle enough on my skin and rinsed off easily. 

 

37) Lancôme Bi-Facil Non Oily - Sensitive Eyes Instant Cleanser (30ml/1 fl.oz travel size) - Another travel bag item.  It's been a long time since I've used this Lancôme version and now I grudgingly have to admit I think this might be the best dual-phase remover out there because it removes the most stubborn mascara (Benefit's They're Real! anyone??) formulas like nothing else. What a shame I'm a cheapskate when it comes to removers but $60AUD is a bit too much for me even for 125ml.

 

38) Face of Australia Gentle Make-Up Remover (125ml/4.23 fl.oz) - Another dual-phase remover and much more affordable than Lancôme as it only costs $8.95 for 125ml.  Okay, so this will take a little more elbow grease to remove the most stubborn eye products but at the price it doesn't matter if I need to use more product.  This is a repurchase and I will continue to repurchase because it's great value for money and is oil and paraben-free.  

 

39) Bioderma Crealine H2O (250ml) - So don't shoot me but after all the hype I just couldn't 100% love this product.  Sure part of me wanted to bathe in it because it felt so soothing and refreshing when removing makeup from my face - however...  It just didn't cut it with waterproof eye makeup removal.  I even tried leaving Bioderma-soaked cotton pads on my eyes for 60 seconds as I'd heard somewhere but it was still to no avail. I can't tell you how many times I woke up with residual mascara smudges! My verdict is obvious:  a great alternative to makeup wipes for cleansing my skin but not tough enough for waterproof mascara.  I won't be rushing to buy another bottle.

 

Hand and body care

 

40) OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (120ml/4 fl.oz) - My fourth bottle for the year and counting. 

 

41) MOR Passionfruit Body Butter - I threw this into the travel bag too because the little tub (around 50ml) was just the right size for a week away.  These are now discontinued.

 

42) La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP (400ml/13.5 fl.oz) - This massive bottle of anti-irritation body balm lasted me months!  I used it as a soothing lotion for my dry sensitive skin and loved how easily it absorbed and how well it soothed any itchy or flaky skin - a must have for winter skin and I can see I'll repurchase this in future.

 

43) Ecoya Body Exfoliator (200 ml) - I won this gorgeous jar in a giveaway.  I loved the rich scent of white lotus flower, vanilla and patchouli and this really felt like a luxe body product with its creamy texture. My criticism is that it was a little too gentle an exfoliator for me - I like to feel instant results - and the exotic floral scent faded away very quickly.  I guess it's just an excuse to layer really because Ecoya do have the matching body cream!

 

Cosmetics

 

Here are this month's additions to my beauty diet empties.  Don't forget you can also check in with Anissa and Norlin to see how they're progressing too!

 

44) L'Oreal True Match Blush (Nude Pink) - I've posted about this blush before (here) as it's an everyday staple which adds glow as well as natural colour to the cheeks. It's a great choice for fairer skinned women and I'd buy it again if I didn't have so many other options! 

 

45) Models Prefer Lip Gloss Pencil (Perfectly Polished) - These pencils provide the optimal mix of shine and colour.  Perfectly Polished was my first MP Lip Gloss Pencil purchase but I've added a few more since then because I love these!

 

46) MAC Lip Glass (Viva Glam VI) - I remember loving this so much that when I lost my original tube a few years ago I was so distressed I had to replace it then and there! I've gone off and back onto it a few times but recently I was really loving it layered over MAC Modesty Cremesheen lipstick.

 

 Culled...

 

 BYS Lash Fibre Pre-Coat - My one fail for the month.  Now that I have a much safer lash primer option (thank you again blinc!) I can toss this scary dry fibre product out.  I was always paranoid of those loose fibres falling into my eyes so out it goes!

 

 

That's it for another month...



March's farewelled products (and beauty diet update)

 

This month's not just about empties - there are also a few product fails in here I finally psyched myself up to let go.  Read on and you'll find out why...

Skin care

 

24) Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes With White Tea Extract (30 towelettes) - These pleasant smelling wipes promised to "...remove makeup, cleanse and tone in one easy step". They were sufficiently moist to do a thorough job and leave my skin feeling comfortable afterwards.  Besides White Tea Extract other botanical goodies include Aloe Leaf Juice and Cucumber Extract. I liked the snap seal on the package too. 

 

25) Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturiser SPF 15 (75ml) - I normally go for moisturisers with higher SPF but I got this as a magazine freebie a while ago so I was happy to use it.  The oil-free, soy enriched formula felt light on the skin and two pumps were enough to moisturise my face and neck so the bottle lasted a few months.  It did leave a bit of sheen on my combination skin though so I needed to mattify afterwards.

 

26) The Face Shop Collagen Essential Mask Sheet - I loved this lifting and moisturizing mask because it did as it promised as my skin felt softer and firmer afterwards.  I will be repurchasing this (and my other favourite Pearl Extract) from The Face Shop the next time I need to replenish my sheet mask supply.

 

Hand and body care

 

27) Natio Meditate Hand Wash Yoga Scent Khus Attar (240ml/8.1fl.oz) - I loved this moisturising hand wash but I used it up far too quickly and now I'm pretty sure it's been discontinued.  As you can infer from the yoga reference the Khus Attar scent was distinctly relaxing and I'm sadly deeply inhaling the remnants of the bottle now as I prepare to throw it away.

 

28) OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (120ml/4 fl.oz) - My third bottle for the year. 

 

29) MOR Grapefruit Body Butter - This little tub was part of a 3-pack I bought for a Christmas gift a couple of years ago but then naughtily decided to keep! The truth is I found something more appropriate for that person and then I put these away and forgot all about them! The grapefruit scent has the perfect mix of citrus zing and sugary sweetness and it absorbed beautifully into the skin.  The small tub (say around 50ml) didn't last very long at all unfortunately and this scent has been discontinued.

 

Cosmetics

 

I decided to get a bit more brutal on my beauty diet this month and following Anissa's very brave and sensible lead (Norlin has also made fantastic progress!), so in addition to accumulating the empties I'm taking a long hard look at some of the makeup items which shouldn't be taking up space in my drawers.  Let's start with the empties first:

 

30) Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer (20 Light) - Perhaps all the hype around this concealer set my expectations way too high because I was underwhelmed by it.  The coverage was too sheer for me, meaning I had to build it and sometimes even reapply it under my eyes later in the day.  I don't have anything against Maybelline concealers per se because I still swear by my old favourite Dream Lumi - I just won't be buying this one again because it doesn't stand up to my PANDA EYES!

31) Lancôme Hypnose Doll Eyes Waterproof Mascara (Black) - I was sad to let this mascara go and not just because it's limited edition.  Read my original mini review here.

32) Bloom Eye Base (3.5g/0.12oz) - I thought this was quite a good eye primer until I switched up products recently.  No matter as it's been discontinued anyway.

 

Culled...

 

Yup, I've finally taken the plunge and decided to get rid of a few products that didn't quite work for me.  At this point I'm deciding these won't count towards makeup empties and I won't use them as credit towards new products in my beauty diet - if they don't work they don't necessarily need to be replaced!

 

Styli-Style Timeless Lipstick (Beauty 1512) - I received this in a swap ages ago and unfortunately silvery matte beige lips are just not for me.  If this was glossy I could have used it as a topper and I suppose conversely I could have topped this lipstick with gloss but seriously I have too many lipsticks already to have to worry about making this one work!

 

L'Oreal Shine Caresse (Princess & Eve) - Ugh, I do feel bad about not loving these and I so wanted them to work for me. Another case of not being swayed by the hype perhaps - but for me they applied unevenly, felt weird on the lips and worse still, bled out in a tacky mess beyond the lip line. Out they go.

 

Essence Cherry Blossom Girl Lipstick Pencil (Cherry Cherry Girl) - Considering they are a budget brand Essence are usually surprisingly good quality so I was in a state of disbelief over the shocking performance of this pencil.  It applied way too thickly, virtually pilling into balls of colour on the lips.  Very hard to describe but trust me it was horrendous and unwearable.  The only positive was it didn't cost much.

 

Fragrance



33) Tom Ford Lys Fume EDP (1.5ml sample) - This is my second sample vial of Lys Fume so I don't need to say too much.   Top notes:  Italian mandarin, pink pepper, turmeric and nutmeg;  middle notes: white lily, ylang-ylang, Artemisia and rum;  base notes: Madagascar vanilla, labdanum, styrax and oak. 

 

Now that feels lighter!

 

September's farewelled products (2013 edition)

It's been a slower month empties-wise but that's quite frankly a relief to me - and maybe you too! No hard slog for the reader or the writer here this time! I'll try and keep the rambling to a minimum too.

 

 

Skin care

 

 

100) Natio Gentle Cleansing Wipes With Green Tea & Chamomile (24 wipes) - Wipes in a box! These were thick wipes with a natural herbal scent.  Lovely, gently cleansing and left my skin feeling clean without being tight or dry.  If I had to pick on one thing it would be that these could have been just a little wetter.

 

101) Vanedo Beauty Friends Green Tea Essence Mask - I'm loving my sheet masks! This one claims to be "firming, moisturizing, elastic" and I kid you not my forehead looked smoother and relaxed after this mask - at least for a few hours anyway. Who needs botox?

 

102) Skinlite Moisturizing Herb Mask - This sheet mask was formulated for dry skin and promised silky, deeply moisturized skin.  100% yes with this one! My cheeks felt soft and peachy like a baby's butt! Rave, rave, rave!



 

Hand and body care

 

103) Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Wash (295ml) - I used this body wash to calm my skin after a nasty bout of eczema on my neck erupted in the middle of winter.  Very creamy, fragrance free and super gentle on the skin.  The bottle lasted quite a long time too.  I would definitely repurchase this for a sensitive skin emergency. 

 

104) OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (120ml - 4 Fl. Oz.) - The most expensive of OPI's removers due to its "professional formula" and "superior performance". It did make slightly less work of removal so it's good for those impatient people like me who change their polish frequently and who don't mind paying around $12AUD for a bottle of remover. I still wish OPI would redesign their bottles and make them spill-proof.  I've had so many incidents with tipping bottles!

 

105) MOR Orange Blossom Hand Cream - This hand cream had been forgotten about then rediscovered and loved by me as my overnight hand treatment.  The blossom scent was subtle and the cream was a rich concoction of Vitamin E and Shea Butter.  I believe it's been discontinued although MOR constantly brings out new decadent scents (and luxe packaging!) so I will definitely be buying more MOR!

 

 

Cosmetics

 

 106) MAC Lustre Lipstick (Gem Of Roses) - I've wailed about the demise of this LE lipstick shade everywhere because I loved it.  It's entirely my own fault becoming addicted to it and wearing it every day.  On the plus side, this goes towards my next Back 2 MAC.

 

 

There you go. Short and sweet for September!

 

May's farewelled products (2013 edition)

So what did I finish up this month?  What were my loves, likes, loathes?  Read on...

Skin care

41) Maybelline City Rescue Total Clean! Express Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (70ml) - So this is the new updated remover from Maybelline.  The notable differences are: the dual-phase liquid is now colourless and the bottle is now a teeny 70ml so I'm going to easily go through a bottle a month (I guess 2 for 1 Maybelline purchases will be a no-brainer!) Aside from that the product seems to be basically the same:  A dual-phase formula you shake up then sweep over the lids and lashes to remove makeup - yes, even waterproof makeup - with a sweep of a soaked cotton pad.  Because of the travel-friendly size and drugstore price I'm happy enough to stick with this for now.

42) Avon Anew Reversalist Renewal Serum (30ml) - After being seduced by a sample tube of this stuff over a year ago, I bought a full-sized bottle on sale.  Suitable for 40+ skin this serum claims to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and skin discolouration.  I liked how soft and velvety this felt when applying and how my skin immediately felt super-soft to the touch.  I also noticed some minor reduction in my pigmentation over time but I don't know that I noticed any wrinkle reduction.  To tell you the truth I try never to get that close - I don't fancy checking out my fine wrinkles! What I didn't like was the strange pump dispenser which threatened to break my nails and how I had no way of guaging just how much was left in the bottle until it ran out! I think I'll wait for another sale before I buy another one of these.

43) Yes to Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butter (Melon) - I loved this little tube of lip balm! I used it as my nightly lip treatment and it was very moisturising without being overly slick or greasy on my lips.  This little 4.25g tube lasted me months too.  Other pluses?  This is certified 95% organic and is paraben free. 

44) Hydratherapy Q10 Replenishing Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes) - I'd never heard of this brand when I spotted this pack of wipes to try.  They claim to hydrate the skin as they remove makeup.  The wipes were a good size, nicely textured so I could feel them cleansing my skin, and nice and wet with the alcohol and oil free cleanser.  One wipe was easily enough to cleanse my entire face. I really liked the fresh slightly citrus scent too and my skin definitely felt moisturized afterward.  At around $5AUD a pack I would definitely repurchase these.

Hand and body care

45) MOR Marshmallow Body Butter - This strange little pink tub was a discount purchase I think.  Anyway I've been going through a lot of small bottles, tubs and sample sachets of body moisturizers lately and this is one of those.  The body butter is pungently strong with MOR's marshmallow (musk candy) scent so I used it occasionally, and sparingly on my knees and elbows.  It's a very thick formula but very well absorbed and it did a decent job of softening the extra-dry bits.  However...I just can't handle the strength of the scent which seemed to be much stronger than the vial of Marshmallow fragrance oil I have!  I'm relieved to see it go.

46) Sportsgirl Hands Down Moisturising Hand Creme (60ml/2.02 fl.oz) - Another disappointing discount purchase.  I bought this reduced from $7.95 to $1.95 and the reason it was discounted became apparent to me very quickly!  For a hand cream this had the potential to make a good body lotion - it was soooo watery to the point of running out of the tube.  I had to tilt the tube upwards to avoid pouring this milky lotion everywhere. That drove me crazy!  On the plus side I did like the soft vanilla fragrance.  Also it did a reasonable job of moisturising my hands, although it did wash away very easily so I had to reapply constantly.

47) OPI Original Nail Envy (15ml/0.5 fl.oz) - My go-to nail strengthener and base coat.  My father also swears by the matte version for his crumbly, splitting nails.

48) Kiehl's Creme de Corps (5ml/0.17 fl.oz sample) - I'm sure I'm preaching to the converted out there but this is the first time I've tried Kiehl's famed body moisturizer and I loved it! It was thick but instantly absorbed, left my skin feeling soft and not at all greasy and there's no perfume to fight with whatever fragrance you feel like wearing.  I'll definitely treat myself to some of this when I clear my current backlog!

Hair care

49) John Frieda Luxurious Volume Lavish Lift Root Booster (29ml/ 1 fl.oz travel size) - Another old sample I found lurking and I wish I'd saved this for my upcoming trip. It gave my hair soft volume and I liked the expensive salon product scent.  After returning to my usual L'Oreal thickening spray I can say I prefer John Frieda so I'll be purchasing the full size product in future.

Cosmetics

50) Christian Dior Diorshow Mascara - After too many months of use it was simply time to go for this mascara.  It remains one of my favourites as it beautifully separates and coats the individual lashes.  No clumping with this one right up to the end!

51) Essence Shimmer Effect Eyeshadow (Cappucino, Please!) - I absolutely adored this pretty shimmery beige eyeshadow and I used it as my MAC Shroom backup because it was such a close dupe.  See my original comparison post here.

Until next month!

What's in my fragrance wardrobe?

This is one of those "come and take a peek" type of posts where I'm sharing another little bit of my beauty-related self with you!

This time I've opened up my fragrance wardrobe to share the full sized fragrances I have on current rotation.  "On current rotation" is the thing here:  I do have a few more still in their boxes but I always worry about fragrance spoiling once it's been opened and exposed to light, heat etc. so I try and limit the number of what I have open at any given time.  Yes, I'm a department store queen when it comes to fragrance so there aren't any indie brands here - although I need to get me some education on that.  Help and recommendations please!

Clockwise from bottom left:

 L'Occitane - Voyage En Mediterranee - Labdanum (EDP 75ml)

Notes: Citrus fruits and spices, Labdanum (a woody shrub with a warm amber scent), benzoin, vanilla

I bought this scent on a whim going through the airport a few years ago because I loved its warm amber notes - amber fragrances always get my attention!  I originally wore it as a cold weather scent but now I've found it works rather well for me on warmer evenings too because it has a sensual oriental undertone to it. With its vanilla base this also works well layered over my chocolate scented Chocomania body lotion from The Body Shop to create a warm gourmand scent which isn't too sweet or cloying.  I'm just sad this is no longer readily available.  Sadly, as with L'Occitane's previous L'eau Ambree, these amber based scents have been discontinued.

Bulgari - Mon Jasmine Noir (EDP 50ml)

Notes:  lily of the valley, sambac jasmine, musky nougatine, vibrant wood

This was a gift from my husband and while the soft floral scent wouldn't have caught my nose's attention I do find it quite pleasant and easy to wear.  Jasmine seems to be the predominant note and although the fragrance is soft - I hate saying this - and inoffensively safe enough for day wear I save it for the evening - in particular date nights with my other half!

YSL - Elle Summer Edition (EDT 90ml)

Notes:  Grapefruit, sambac jasmine, pink pepper, benzoin, amber

I'm a fan of the original fruitier, woodier Elle fragrance and bought this version as my summer scent on a whim (and because it was on sale).  I like the lightness and freshness of this version but ultimately I'm a true fan of the original pink bottle with its woodier base notes.  I save this fragrance for weekend wear only - and then only for warm, sunny days!  Somehow I don't want to break the connection with this scent, summery weather and fun - go figure!

MOR - Marshmallow Perfume Oil (9ml)

Notes:  Vanilla musk, jasmine flower, sugar dipped rose petals, white carnation, cotton candy

Get the idea this is sweet scent? Yes, oh yes, and I don't particularly understand the reference to marshmallow as this fragrance definitely smells like musk candy to me.  I bought this because I actually liked the marshmallow scented hand cream but I find this is just a little too much for me.  Worn sparingly on rare occasions only!

Versace - Bright Crystal (EDT 30ml)

Notes:  Iced accord, yuzu, pomegranate, peony, magnolia, lotus flower, acajou, vegetal amber, musk

I bought my first bottle in the same size for a travel-sized scent, then liked it so much I bought another - mostly because it reminded me of that wonderful vacation.  It smells quite crisp and slightly green to me for a floral scent. Very summery and a favourite choice for the weather we've been having because I smell so fresh when I wear it.

L'Occitane - Pivoine Flora (EDT 75ml)

 Notes:  bergamot, grapefruit, green notes, peony, magnolia, violet, vanilla, cedar, musk

I bought this last spring when I was looking for a lighter, fresh scent for the season.  I love how this scent rides the balance of floral and green so while it is very feminine it still has that clean freshness that I love in the warmer months.  This is one of my everyday daytime scents because it's so versatile.  Good for the office or  worn as a casual weekend scent.  

So there you have it - you've had a little peek into my fragrance wardrobe.  I can see I'll be including some richer, warmer fragrances when the weather cools down but these are my current go to's.

What are your current favourites?

REVIEW: November's farewelled products

So this is my second last empties post for the year - without further ado let me get right into it!

Skin care

114) L'Oreal Youth Code Lumiere (aka 'Luminosity') Extraordinary Serum (30ml)
I've got back on the wagon with serums as I figure my middle-aged skin can do with all that extra penetrative skincare!  L'Oreal's serum was the first because it promises to correct my dreaded dark spots and I've been using this along with Luminosity Day Cream because, well, it can't hurt! What can I say about it??  The formula is loaded with Vitamin Cg and has a faintly citrus scent.  It absorbs instantly as you'd expect and did give my skin an instantly more luminous veneer as promised because of its light-reflecting formula.  As usual, even after using this for just over a month I can't really detect that this product has reduced my pigmentation but it hasn't got any worse either! Is that a win? I guess so.  Would I repurchase? Probably, because this is well priced at $35.95AUD for quality skincare - although I have a backlog of three other serums to get through first!

115) Coca-Cola Vanilla Lip Smacker (4.0g/0.14 oz)
I didn't know just how to categorize this so let's just go with skincare shall we? I bought this for a bit of fun and ended up using it as my nightly lip balm.  I actually liked this fun product very much - it did a really good job of moisturising my lips and the scent/'flavour' was more cinnamon than Vanilla Coke so I quite liked that too!

116) Bloom off, off and away cleansing wipes (24 wipes)
After around a year of trying out different facial wipes I'm feeling a bit like the connoisseur, lol!  As you can see I picked up this pack (and another) at the reduced price of $3.00 and to be honest I'm glad I didn't pay full price.  These wipes are probably the smallest wipes I've used and on several occasions I've found a second wipe necessary to cleanse my entire face.  What I did like was the gentle, alcohol-free formula and the pleasant cucumber scent.  Would I repurchase? Not at the full price, no.

Hand and body care

117) Sally Hansen Mega Shine Extended Wear Top Coat (12.7ml/0.43fl. oz)

This top coat is an old favourite of mine from my pre-blogger days when I didn't need my polish to dry in 60 seconds flat!  Sure, this isn't the fastest drying top coat, although it still is reasonably quick and touch-dry in a matter of minutes, but heck the shine is fantastic!  I still love it and will definitely repurchase.  The only thing which bugs me a little is the opaque bottle.  I've got no way of knowing exactly how much product is left in the bottle until it runs out - sometimes mid-manicure!

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

My tenth bottle for the year. 

119) Palmer's Skin Smoothing Lotion with Alpha/Beta Hydroxy & Shea butter (250ml - 8.5fl. oz)

I've raved about this body lotion many a time because of the genuine skin smoothing formula and this is my fourth emptied bottle this year.  

120) OPI RapiDry Top Coat (3.75ml - 1/8fl. oz)

I've always got full sized backups of this top coat on hand because it's quick drying and non-shrinking.  The mini bottles like this one do frustrate me though because there's about a quarter of the bottle wasted as the brush simply cannot reach that far.

121) MOR Marshmallow Hand Cream (50ml - 1.7 fl. oz)

This was my handbag hand cream and it's certainly attention-getting!  The scent is a rather strong and lingering musk candy which can be smelt metres away, so I discovered one day at work when one of my friends asked what I was wearing.  The cream itself is rather thick and reasonably moisturising but I found the scent just a little too distracting for me.

Cosmetics

122) Essence Glossy Lip Balm (Sparkling Cherry)

Cheap and cheerful, and a really pretty sheer cherry red on the lips.  Unfortunately these little cuties have been discontinued.

123) Wet 'n' Wild Lip Liner Pencil (666 Brandy Wine)

This little stub doesn't tell the full story (or does it?) but this pencil lasted me years and I loved it so much that I requested a backup.  See here for a swatch and a little more of my raving over this drugstore gem.

124) Napoleon Perdis Mascara/Lipgloss

I got this as a magazine freebie some time ago and this two-in-one was a hit and a miss in one.  The sheer icy pink lipgloss was surprisingly flattering and I loved it but the mascara was another story altogether - I hated it!  The mascara was clumpy and not water-resistant in the slightest - panda eyes anyone???  At least I didn't actually buy this.

125) L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch of Light - Highlighting Pen (2 - Medium)

Unfortunately, this product was one of the makeup disappointments of the year for me - you can read all about it again here.

Fragrance

126) Tom Ford Violet Blonde EDP (1.5ml -.05fl.oz sample)

Complimentary samples, the the only way I can afford Tom Ford fragrances *sigh*.  When I first smelt this I thought it was a little too mature and bold for me but on a second, and third sniff I changed my mind - I like the unusually dramatic powdery floral scent.  This fragrance has top notes of "...violet leaf, Italian mandarin and pink pepper;  middle notes of Tuscan iris absolute, Tuscan orris butter, Sambac jasmine and sampaquita;  and base notes of musk, suede, cedar, vetiver and benzoin".  If only I could afford to buy one of TF's fragrances...

127) Narciso Rodriguez Essence Eau de Musc EDP (75ml)

I loved the softness of this fragrance and it was suitable for every day wear.  This has, "...dominant aromas of musk, with aromas of ylang-ylang, jasmine and orange blossom".  It's simply very pretty in my opinion and I would definitely repurchase.

That's it for another month!

Vita :)

Delicious beauty: What's your flavour?

A little while ago I was musing to anyone in the world (well the Twitterverse at least) about how I tend to reapply delicious, edible scented lip glosses more often than others, just because of the sheer sensory enjoyment.  It occurred to me that I do have a bit of a 'thing' for anything that smells edible particularly if it smells of vanilla, coconut or berries!

Just for fun I'm posting an inventory of my gourmand beauty products, sorted by 'flavour'.  If you're a yummy beauty fan like me then just enjoy, if not then indulge me this once.  I am a Taurean after all...

Vanilla

• The Body Shop Vanilla Perfume Oil - This has a very edible, warm vanilla fragrance.  Pure love in a bottle for me and I don't need to say any more than that...
• MAC lipstick - I don't just love MAC lippies for the wonderful array of colours and finishes but also their soft, subtle vanilla scent. 
• Bloom Lip Gloss - Beautifully shiny, lovely colours and they moisturise my lips.  Of course the best part as far as I'm concerned is the Vanilla and Mandarin essential oil scent!
• Softlips Vanilla - This vanilla bean scented balm moisturises lips and protects them from sun damage as it contains SPF 20.

Cocoa

• The Body Shop Chocomania Range - These products all smell sooo ridiculously chocolatey they come with a 'Do Not Eat' warning on the bottom of the packaging!  I have the Body Scrub and Body Lotion from this range.
• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Body Gloss - I have a lot of Palmer's products and the cocoa scent is definitely there but not too overpowering.  I use the Body Gloss for an after dark shimmery sheen on bare summer legs and arms.

Coconut

• Heavy Rotation Enamel Gloss (Berry) - I've blogged about this Japanese lip gloss many times. Whenever I decide to use it I end up reapplying many times, mainly because of the scrummy and summery coconut scent as well as its buttery smooth texture on the lips.
• Reniu Virgin Coconut Body Oil - This is the last item I have left of a set gifted to me from a friend returning from Fiji. The natural coconut scent is summer in a bottle.
  

Berries & Cherries

• Maybelline Baby Lips Anti-Oxidant Balm (Berry) - I have a few different flavours in my stash but Berry is my favourite.
• Yes to Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butter (Berry) - This 95% organic balm lives on my bedside table for overnight lip moisturising.
• Essence Glossy Lip Balm (Sparkling Cherry) - I wish these weren't discontinued.  I bought the whole range when they were released and Cherry is my current flavour of choice for a subtle tinted shine on my lips.

Candy

• MOR Marshmallow Perfume Oil and Hand Cream - Sweet without being too cloying, I'd describe the scent as more like musk flavoured candy.  Deliciously addictive to me!
• Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipsticks - I have a whole load of these because they are so highly pigmented and long wearing for a drugstore product.  They also have a subtle bubblegum scent, although it fades fairly quickly after application.

Do you have a favourite beauty flavour?

I'd love to see your delicious beauty inventory!

Until next time

Vita :)

My hand & nail care routine...

I should have done this post a long time ago.  I've been asked a few times to share my hand and nail care routine so here it finally is!  One important disclaimer:  I just need to remind you I'm not a beauty professional or manicurist, I'm just a beauty fanatic and these are the hand products I currently have on rotation. (I am known to change my products on a whim, particularly when it comes to hand cream because I'm a total product whore!)  Anyway, here we go...

Hand & cuticle moisturisers

I've always got at least a few hand creams on rotation, and my highly original mantra is "moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!" because my skin on my hands is really dry, sensitive and prone to cracking if I neglect it. I always try to apply after I wash my hands (which is frequently), and last thing before I go to bed. At the moment I have two tubes on my bedside table and one in my handbag/purse:

Aveeno Intense Relief hand cream - The first of the bedside table brigade this hand cream is the sensible "cotton underwear" option in moisturisers, and a soothing, reliable option I turn to when my skin's particularly dry or I have an eczema flare up. I've been wearing this one a LOT lately because the wickedly cold weather and the drying effect of indoor heating have been playing havoc with my skin

MOR Orange Blossom hand cream - I bought this earlier this year for the unusual orange blossom scent and the very pretty tube. Luxe packaging is suitable for the boudoir so that's why it's the second hand cream taking up residence on my bedside table. It is rich and lovely and as long as my hands aren't cracked I'll slather it on just to smell the scent!

SHE Sheer Brightness hand cream - To be honest this tube's my current handbag staple just because it was at the top of the hand cream stash! I bought it for the youth preserving properties and the list of magic ingredients include Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Pomegranate and Vitamin F. It absorbs quite well and leaves my skin soft, but the essential oil scent is a little heavy for my personal taste.


OK, when it comes to my cuticles I'm not as vigilant about specifically moisturising them as I should be and I'm also guilty of not using a cuticle remover. I'll use cuticle treatments when I remember and when I apply the treatment and the cuticle has softened I'll very gently push them back. My favourite cuticle moisturiser is Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream but currently I'm using:

Sally Hansen Quick Care Massaging Cuticle Care Treatment - This is quite a nifty little product but it gets buried in my makeup purse and I forget about it! The sweet almond oil and mango seed butter are housed in a pen applicator. One twist and it oozes through the rubber bristle tip to quickly massage into the cuticles and there is a curved edge on one side of the tip perfect for easing the cuticles back

Lucas' Papaw Ointment - This soothing all-rounder sits on my bedside table and I'll use it as an overnight treatment for dry, ragged cuticles and anything else that's dry and ragged! Click here for a full review.

 

Shaping tools

I very rarely use nail clippers to shape my nails and it's only when I want to drastically shorten them, so instead I use my nail file at least weekly to keep them even and under control.

Glass nail file -   I use a glass file to shape my nails rather than an emery board as it doesn't wear down and need to be replaced and it is gentle on my nails.  I have noticed my nails split and chip much less than they used to since I switched from emery to glass so now I have one of these at home and and a pretty crystal bejewelled version in my makeup purse.

Buffer - I'll use a buffer once a month to smooth out any ridges on my nails.  I'm careful not to overdo it and never buff more frequently than monthly as the buffing thins and weakens the nails if done too enthusiastically.

Remover, base & top coats

Because I do my nails quite frequently (i.e. more than once a week) I stick to moisturising polish removers and nourishing, strengthening base coats to minimise the chemical damage.  And because I'm always in a hurry I use quick drying, long lasting top coats! Currently these are:

OPI original polish remover - Recently repackaged in a sleeker, slightly larger bottle for the same price (Yay!) this remover does a decent job of removing my polish and moisturises my nails with aloe vera.  From time to time I do try other products but keep coming back to this and I really don't want to think about how many litres I've gone through...

OPI Nail Envy nail strengthener -  I have used this treatment for years and it seems to have saved me from the damage caused by years of nail biting.  I'll wear two coats over naked nails as a strengthening treatment, although I haven't had naked nails since I started blogging!  Mostly I'll wear a single coat of Nail Envy as my base coat and it works really well as a smooth, protective base for coloured polish. 

China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat - Not my usual quick drying top coat of choice (Hello OPI RapiDry!) but I saw this at a beauty discounters so decided to try it.  It's a bit stinkier and smells more toxic than OPI and has a skinny brush but - bottom line - it does dry quickly and my manicure can last up to 6 days with a single application.

Sally Hansen Megashine Extended Wear Top Coat - This is my other top coat of choice and it really gives that ah-may-zing lacquered shine to any mani.  It dries almost as quickly as RapiDry so it's touch dry within a few minutes and is a really durable top coat where week long mani's are required.  I alternate happily between this and RapiDry.

Quick dry drops

A friend (and follower) introduced me to quick dry polish drops and I've been hooked ever since.  Because I need my polish to dry so quickly with all those colour changes and I want my cuticles to look you know, nice, in those unforgiving closeup pics, quick dry drops take care of both of those needs.  My manicure is good to go in minutes and my cuticles are moisturised by the oils.  Usually I'll use OPI's Drip Dry Drops but at the moment I'm trying Sally Hansen's Speed Dry Drops.  These are considerably more affordable than the OPI drops but are a little oilier so they're not my personal fave.

So - now you know it takes an army to take care of my hands!

  What are your must have hand or nail care products?

Until next time.

Vita :)