REVIEW: Products farewelled in May

You can tell the weather's getting colder.  Half of this month's empties are to prevent parched skin!

Continuing with my progressive tally here's what I thought of these.



24) OPI Polish Remover  (non-oily, moisturizing formula)

My fourth bottle for the year and not my last!  For my original review click here.

25) Natio Spa Heavenly Hand Cream
I've been using this since March just to get rid of it.  The product is okay but I don't like the particularly 'green' grassy fragrance.  I won't be buying this again.  For a more detailed review on both this and the Redwin Sorbolene Moisturiser (below) click here.

26) Redwin Sorbolene Moisturiser
This is a hard-working favourite of mine for my hands and actually it's a great multi-tasker that can be used as a body moisturiser, shaving cream, to soothe sunburn and nappy rash.  I wouldn't hesitate to repurchase this.


27) OPI RapiDry Top Coat
I've used several bottles of this over the years and it's great at sealing my manicure quickly and lets me get on with things without worrying about dented or sheet-printed manicures.

Pros:

• My manicure is touch-dry within five minutes
• Provides a high shine finish
• Gives my mani durability (up to a week)

Cons:

• You need to use lacquer thinner to extend the life of this product (otherwise it becomes too thick after about two-thirds use)
• The brush actually broke on this bottle!
• Price:  $25.95AUD

Would I buy this again?
Actually I have, but I'm also a fan of Sally Hansen's quick-drying products when I'm on a budget.


28) Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion
I bought this as a two-pack from Costco a few months ago because I was already a bit of a fan of the Aveeno hand cream and figured I'd give this a try as well.  This is very similar in formula to the Aveeno hand cream as it contains natural colloidal oatmeal to prevent and protect dry skin and claims to moisturise your skin "...for a full 24 hours".

Pros:

• Good for sensitive skin
• Fragrance free so doesn't compete for attention with your perfume
• Makes my wintery skin silky soft and prevents the usual scaly dry skin
• Soothes itchy dry skin immediately
• Absorbs well,  non-greasy
• Large bottle size - 354ml/12fl.oz

Cons:

• I found the pump mechanism made it difficult to get the last bits of lotion out of the bottle

Would I buy this again?
I've already got a back-up because of the twin pack but I'd definitely buy this again for winter moisturising and preventing the usual crocodile skin.


29) Lancome Rouge Attraction Lipstick (Orange Hypnose) - Discontinued 
I bought this lipstick at half-price a few years ago and it's been my staple evening lippy ever since.  This was a faintly sparkly orange-red lippy with a semi-matte finish.  The formula was heavily pigmented with good staying power and no bleeding.  I'm disappointed these lipsticks have been discontinued otherwise I'd certainly consider buying this again because of its unusual finish and the gorgeous luxe packaging (matte silver bullet with slanted gold-tipped lid).




*Thanks to everyone for their comments on yesterday's post.  Here are my comments right back at you:

@Izabella - Thanks!

@Leanne - Glad you're a purple fan too.  I really loved MAC's Rebel and used it up to the last drop.  I have a friend who still has a bottle on hand.  I might see if I can borrow it to post a swatch for you!

@Melyssa - thanks for the tips on Blogger.  I'm going to get my Hubby to check it out this weekend to see if we can solve this ourselves too :)

@Vintage - Thanks!  Ingrid swatch coming soon!

@McDiaz714 - Shame this colour didn't work out for you.

@Makeup and Macaroons - Hi Lilit, glad you liked the swatch!  Seems we're all having Blogger probs at the moment :(

That's all for now.

Vita :)

REVIEW: My hand cream stash

Being a middle-aged nail polish fanatic I try to take care of my hands to minimise wear and tear from housework, the elements, and inevitably aging.  I'm also allergic to a lot of things and can get pretty bad eczema outbreaks on my hands from time to time...How depressing!

I have a number of tubes of hand cream in my arsenal to keep my hands from getting too dry and sensitive and I'm always on the lookout for new and better ones to try.  I don't discriminate based on price, so it doesn't matter if a product costs $2 or $50 as long as it works for me - very often it's those $2 tubes that are the real stars for me!  At the moment I have one tube on my bedside table and two in my handbag that I'm running with.  So here's a brief review of what I think of them.

High End:

  L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream

This is made in France and is luxury in a paint tube.  It's quite a thick cream, with 20% shea butter so it's rich and a little goes a long way.  It absorbs really well and feels as smooth as silk on my hands. The thing that absolutely seduces me about this cream is its divine fragrance.  I'm kicking myself that I can't exactly describe the scent, but it's really soft and feminine.  The downside about this hand cream is the price.  This tiny 30ml/1oz tube cost me $16.95AUD!  It's my indulgence.

Mid Range:

  Natio Spa Heavenly Hand Cream

This 90g/3.8oz hand cream cost me under $10 so it's good value, but I don't love this one.  According to the back of the tube this has..."Certified organic and avurvedic plant extracts to help soften hands and strengthen nails.  Helps reduce pigmentation and age spots..."  Despite all that I still don't love it and after initially trying it I ignored it for a while on the bedside table.  The texture is lighter than the L'Occitane hand cream and the absorption and moisturising properties are good enough, but for me it's the fragrance that lets this one down.  It has a really strong grassy herbal scent that really doesn't appeal to me.  It's purely my personal preference and this one is not for me.

Bargain Basement:

  Redwin Sorbolene Moisturiser

This tube is my little workhorse and the product I turn to when my skin's in trouble as it is for sensitive skin.  The formula contains glycerin and vitamin E, is richly moisturising and absorbs well.  The only fragrance is a very subtle glycerin scent.  I love this because it heals my dry and cracked skin when I have eczema, and it only costs less than $4AUD for a 100g/3.52oz tube!  This means I can apply it as frequently as I like without feeling like I'm pouring money down the drain.  No frills but it's one of my favourites and something I always return to. 

• L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream is available at Myer and David Jones stores throughout Australia, and L'Occitane stores internationally. 
• Natio is an Australian brand and is available at Myer and pharmacies.  See their website here.
• Redwin is available at Priceline stores and pharmacies throughout Australia.

As I mentioned I'm always on the hunt for new and better hand creams so expect more reviews!

That's all for now.

Vita :)