It's empties time again! I'm a wee bit overdue this time around so I have a lot to talk about! It feels good to be finishing up products. I also did a wardrobe AND makeup declutter this past week so I'm feeling extra good about myself haha! I got rid of a tonne of makeup that I just wasn't using (or was super old) and my collection is a lot more streamlined. That being said, I still have a huge collection and way more than I actually need... haha. :P Anyway, let's dive into products I've actually finished!
25/06/2018
Empties #17
Labels:
Antipodes,
Benzac,
Biore,
Bite Beauty,
body,
Dove,
Empties,
Klorane,
La Roche-Posay,
LuLuLun,
Lush,
NARS,
NYX,
REN,
skincare,
Skinstitut,
Sleek,
The Body Shop,
The Ordinary,
Wotnot
12/02/2018
Empties #16
It's empties time again! As per the usual, I've got a heap of skincare and almost zero makeup but hey, at least I'm using up my products! Not much more to say in this intro, so let's dive in!
Labels:
Aesop,
Bioderma,
clinique,
Elemis,
Empties,
Lush,
Mario Badescu,
Maxfactor,
Natralus Australia,
Nuxe,
Petit Bonheur,
Philosophy,
Pixi,
Sally Hansen,
skincare,
Swisspers
16/11/2017
Empties #15
Time to empty the trashbag into a dishevelled-chic flatlay! Probably the last empties of the year and I'm proud that I've gone through so many products. Enough with the preamble, because I know this post is going to be rambly as ffff!
Labels:
Asap,
Benefit,
body,
Bourjois,
Empties,
hair,
Heroine Make,
Hylamide,
Kiehl's,
L'Occitane,
La Roche-Posay,
Lush,
Maybelline,
Natura Siberica,
Rimmel,
Rosehip Plus,
Sally Hansen,
skincare,
Tresemme,
Trilogy
14/08/2017
Empties #14
Another quarter, another empties. As usual, I've gone through quite a bit of skincare and body products, but pretty much no makeup! I'll keep this intro short and jump right in because we all know these posts can tend to get quite long!
Labels:
Bare Minerals,
Biology,
body,
By Terry,
Coconut Revolution,
DHC,
Elemis,
Empties,
Essence,
hair,
Kelapa Organics,
Natralus Australia,
Qlabo,
Rosehip Plus,
Simple,
skincare,
Tresemme,
Weleda
13/04/2017
Empties #13
Hellloooo... is this thing on?! Long time no see peeps! I'm back from my longer-than-intended hiatus! The past month or so has been absolutely hectic for me and I seriously had no time to even think about blogging, let alone actually taking photos or sitting down and writing a post! I've been absolutely slammed with assessment (it's been my biggest first half of semester ever), not to mention it was my sister's wedding on the weekend! It was a very DIY wedding so the days leading up to the wedding were super busy setting up the decor and the venue (and then cleaning up after!). I did her makeup on the day - along with mine and my other sister as we were bridesmaids - which was quite stressful but still super amazing! I do plan on doing a post on the products I used because I was really happy with how it turned out - I'm just waiting until the professional photos come in! Anyway, I'm coming at you today with an overdue empties post. I was going to do this a few weeks ago but I realised I didn't actually have a lot of empties, but a lot of things were aaaalmost finished so I used those suckers up! I've got a lot of products to go through so I'll try and be as brief as possible!
21/11/2016
Empties #12
It's empties time again, and I'm happy to say I've made it through quite a few skincare products! I'm really trying to focus on actually finishing (skincare and body) products before opening new ones, and so far it's working well. It also means I've been sticking to a consistent skincare routine which my skin is definitely thanking me for! Let's dig in, shall we?
Labels:
Antipodes,
Australis,
Bliss,
body,
Empties,
Garnier,
Maxfactor,
Natura Siberica,
People for Plants,
Premium Spa,
skincare,
Trilogy,
Weleda
08/08/2016
Empties #12
I don't know how I didn't realise it, but my empties bin has been piling up rapidly! An empties post was long overdue and I have a lot of products to go through that I've finished in the past four months or so. Feels good to get rid of all this clutter! I'm pretty sure I've talked about most of these products on the blog before, so I'll link relevant reviews where applicable! I'll try to make it snappy as I've got so much to go through! If you have any questions on any specific products, hit me up in the comments ;)
Labels:
Alpha-H,
Antipodes,
body,
Daiso,
Empties,
Evian,
hair,
Heroine Make,
Kosmea,
L'oreal,
La Roche-Posay,
Lush,
Maybelline,
Model Co,
People for Plants,
Sanctuary Spa,
skincare
14/04/2016
Empties #11
It's been a hot minute since my last empties! I try to get one of these up every quarter, but sometimes I just forget or keep putting it off until I finish a certain product because I'm sooo close. Anyway, this is the loot that I've come up with this time around!
Labels:
Biore,
body,
Dove,
Empties,
Facial Mask,
Garnier,
Goldwell,
Hada Labo,
hair,
La Roche-Posay,
Origins,
QV,
Rimmel,
skincare,
The Body Shop,
The Jojoba Co,
Trilogy
11/12/2015
Empties #10
It's time to check in with my empties bin! My little bucket has been piling up and I thought I better get out an empties post before the year is out! I have to say, I'm pretty proud of how many products I've managed to get through over the year and these posts have been semi-regular every 3 months-ish. Gold star for effort ayy. Anyway, onto tha goodz. Also ignore the weird colouring differences...foil-y metallic background is hard to photograph on!
Labels:
Antipodes,
body,
Elemis,
Empties,
Grown Alchemist,
hair,
Kerastase,
L'oreal,
La Roche-Posay,
Lush,
Mario Badescu,
Simple,
skincare,
Sunsilk,
Vanessa Megan
10/09/2015
Empties #9
It hasn't been that long since my last empties, but wow - I've been on a roll! Either a bunch of products just decided to finish simultaneously or I've actually been using them (what a shocker). But yes, I'm trying to (sort of) make more of a conscious effort to finish products! These empties posts always end up being super long and rambly, so imma try and keep it short (ish) as we have a lot to get through!
Labels:
body,
Empties,
Josie Maran,
Kate Somerville,
L'oreal,
La Roche-Posay,
Lush,
Mario Badescu,
Nuxe,
REN,
Sanctuary Spa,
skincare,
Sukin,
The Body Shop,
Vanessa Megan
14/07/2015
Empties #8
It's been a little while since my last empties, and when the empties bin starts overflowing, you know it's time for an update! I have quite a few products to talk through (no makeup though, that shiz is impossible to finish up), so let's get started!
Labels:
Antipodes,
Daiso,
Dermalogica,
ECO,
Empties,
Goldwell,
hair,
La Roche-Posay,
Lush,
Nivea,
Simple,
skincare,
Smart Skin,
Unico
23/04/2015
Empties #7
Slowly, but surely, I've been making my way downtown through quite a few products! Sort of justifies the huge amount of hair and skincare products I've come into the possession of...right? Anyway, let's dig into the empties!
Labels:
clarins,
Elemis,
Empties,
hair,
Kerastase,
Kosmea,
L'oreal,
Laura Mercier,
Mario Badescu,
Maybelline,
Nail polish,
Nivea,
Revlon.,
skincare,
Trilogy,
Vanessa Megan
05/02/2015
Empties #6
It's that time again! The rare, but fairly regular occurrence of an empties post. I seem to have had an influx of empty cleansers and skincare in general (all the more reason to buy more hey? ;) ) and it was about time I rounded it all up and shared my thoughts on all the products I've finished!
Labels:
clearasil,
Empties,
hair,
Lush,
NAT,
OriginalMineral,
Puretopia,
Sanctuary Spa,
skincare,
Trilogy
06/11/2014
Empties #5
It's empties time y'all! I actually haven't done one of these in quite a while, but I've accumulated quite the load of rubbish. Since taking the photos for this post, I've actually finished up/am near finished quite a few others, so expect another empties soon!
Wow whee, talk about a throwback. This was featured in one of my early hauls and for those first few months, I really did love this. Its basic ingredients are pretty much witch hazel and alcohol which isn't that great. I didn't actually find it too drying, but it wasn't great. I feel like it did help clear my skin to some degree, though I've moved on to far better and brighter toners.
Repurchase? No.
Dang, I loved these pads. They are essentially pads soaked in a gentle chemical exfoliant which really helped keep my skin clear, helped fade dark spots, as well as improve my skin's texture. I'm currently back using my Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening toner, but I've now decided that a chemical exfoliant is definitely a skincare product I'd rather not be without!
Repurchase? Not right now, but totally in the future!
I found this serum really helped out with dark spots, skin texture and acne - very much similar to the FAB pads. It also acts somewhat like a chemical exfoliant with the inclusion of Glycolic acid, though in a serum form. It's quite an affordable way to get some chemical exfoliating-ness in your routine!
Repurchase? I already have!
Indeed Labs Hydraluron
Contrary to everyone else, I really did not see any difference when using this serum. I used it every morning and I honestly can't say it helped much in the way of my skin's moisture of hydration. Personally I found it very disappointing. It's probably just my skin type but it was for sure a waste of money for me.
Repurchase? No.
Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturising Cream
I did really like this at one point, but in comparison to other moisturisers I've tried (Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream), I didn't find this outstanding. It was sufficiently hydrating, but I only ever used it mixed in with a facial oil. I did also find it slightly greasier than other night creams I've used.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturiser
I got this as a plane freebie, and it was interesting to say the least. It had a very gel like, almost a bit sticky, texture which in theory sounds like it would be totally moisturising, and while on the lips it does feel that way, I don't think it really moisturised my lips very much. It's been a while since I used it, and I honestly can't remember what it was like. I guess that's a testament to how much I cared for it.
Repurchase? No.
Beauty Care Co Makeup Remover Pads
I think these have been featured in other empties posts. These are the cheapest cotton rounds I've found - they're $2 for 200 which is a bargain! That is, however, reflected in the quality. They are a bit fluffy and come apart easily, but personally I don't mind, and for something like cotton pads, I'd rather not pay a lot.
Repurchase? Yep, unless I find something cheaper!
This was nice while I used it. I really do like the Moringa scent, however the soap itself isn't amazing, especially for coming from a brand like The Body Shop. It leaves my skin feeling a bit taut, and not moisturised at all. I'll be sticking to my Dove Beauty Bars thanks!
Repurchase? No.
Indola Glamour Precious Oil
This was one of my first hair oils, and I must say I enjoyed it right up till the end. It did everything a hair oil should; left it looking smooth and shiny, soft to the touch and hydrated. While I did really love it, I think the L'oreal Mythic Oil has surpassed it.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Daiso Detergent for Puff and Sponge
Probably the best thing for cleaning brushes - and it's only $2.80! It cleans brushes really well with minimal effort.
Repurchase? Definitely!
I got this little sample through their facebook page and I liked it enough to purchase it! It gives a really good coverage for a BB cream, a nice satin finish that lasts really well throughout the day on my combo skin. I tend to think of it more like a lightweight, light coverage foundation than a BB cream.
Repurchase? Well, I bought the full size!
12/06/2014
Empties #4
Well do I have quite the empties post for you guys today! It's been long overdue, I'd actually already taken the photos weeks ago but realised I forgot to include a few things, then I finished more products so it just ended up accumulating!
Clear Nourishing Shampoo and Daily Conditioner
As you can see, I have both the full sizes and travel minis. I'll probably keep the mini bottles to refill for travelling later. I thoroughly enjoyed this shampoo and conditioner. I definitely felt that it was nourishing, making my hair soft and smooth. It was moisturising on the scalp but didn't make me overly oily, and cleaned well.
Repurchase? In the future, yes!
Initially I really enjoyed this mask, however towards the middle/end I didn't notice it doing overly much for me. It's supposed to be very moisturising on the hair and help repair damage. When I used this, I didn't notice much moisturisation - my hair didn't feel softer than usual - and my hair only felt conditioned when I followed up with a conditioner.
Repurchase? No
Holy grail product, and it was in my last empties (albeit, 4 months ago), so I clearly go through the stuff! I've talked about it countless times but I genuinely feel like this helps keep my skin relatively clear.
Repurchase? Yes already have, though in the future I really would like to try the+ version!
Another product that's been previously featured in one of my empties. I do feel like this helps fade acne scars gradually, as well as giving my skin somewhat of a 'glow'. I just really like the texture and feel of this moisturiser as well.
Repurchase? Yes, though trying to use up other moisturisers at the moment. I'd also like to give others a go.
Beauty Care Co Green Tea Facial Wipes
My second pack of these and I bought them because they were cheap ($2). They're decent enough however the actual towel is a bit dry, and the last couple of wipes I had in here dried out. I've since moved on to the Smart Skin ones from Woolworths which are much more moist, for the same price.
Repurchase? No
Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser
Haven't seen this guy round these parts in a while have we? He finally bit the bullet and while I did initially love it, and still do think it is a really good, effective cleanser, I guess I got a bit bored of it towards the end? I didn't find it to be as thick or balm like as I originally thought. Now that I've tried cleansers like Lush Ultrabland, this one felt quite thin in comparison. I will always like it though because it was the first proper cleanser I used that helped my skin on the road to recovery!
Repurchase? Not at the moment or near future, but I wouldn't rule it out!
Kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rose hip Oil
I really adored this rose hip oil and it probably still stands as my favourite. It has so many benefits to the skin. I found it sunk in well, was extremely moisturising and helped my skin with acne and evening out its tone.
Repurchase? In the future, yes
A'kin Pure Radiance Rose hip Oil
This had the same look and feel and the Kosmea one, so I thought it would be similar, but no. I really dislike this one! I don't think I could pinpoint a specific reason, but I just found it didn't make my skin feel good. I used it for about a week or so and really just disliked it. Upon going back to the Trilogy one I am currently using, my skin went back to feeling moisturised and less congested.
Repurchase? No
Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser
Haven't seen this guy round these parts in a while have we? He finally bit the bullet and while I did initially love it, and still do think it is a really good, effective cleanser, I guess I got a bit bored of it towards the end? I didn't find it to be as thick or balm like as I originally thought. Now that I've tried cleansers like Lush Ultrabland, this one felt quite thin in comparison. I will always like it though because it was the first proper cleanser I used that helped my skin on the road to recovery!
Repurchase? Not at the moment or near future, but I wouldn't rule it out!
Kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rose hip Oil
I really adored this rose hip oil and it probably still stands as my favourite. It has so many benefits to the skin. I found it sunk in well, was extremely moisturising and helped my skin with acne and evening out its tone.
Repurchase? In the future, yes
A'kin Pure Radiance Rose hip Oil
This had the same look and feel and the Kosmea one, so I thought it would be similar, but no. I really dislike this one! I don't think I could pinpoint a specific reason, but I just found it didn't make my skin feel good. I used it for about a week or so and really just disliked it. Upon going back to the Trilogy one I am currently using, my skin went back to feeling moisturised and less congested.
Repurchase? No
Sally Hansen Acetone-Free Fast & Gentle Polish Remover
For some reason, I/my mum always purchases this one, it's just the one we've always used! I will admit, it's not the most effective because it's acetone-free, especially with glittery polishes, but it does the job and doesn't dry out my hands/nails or cause any irritation.
Repurchase? Already have, and probably will in the future - though I should probably investigate others!
Repurchase? Already have, and probably will in the future - though I should probably investigate others!
Soap & Glory Hand Food
This is pretty old and actually not completely empty but the cream has turned to a runny, sour liquid - yuck. Definitely time for the bin! I did really enjoy this hand cream though! It smells divine, and it was quite a thin feeling texture that sunk in quickly and didn't leave a greasy residue. Because it is a thinner texture, I didn't find it absolutely crazy moisturising but it's not as rich so it's understandable. Great for on the go though!
Repurchase? In the future, yes
Original Source Lime Shower Gel
This was a pretty standard shower gel. It lathered well and left my skin feeling clean - not squeakily so or dry, but also not moisturised or soft. The scent smells like lemon-lime Solo soft drink which was refreshing at first, but after a while it began to remind me of some sort of citrus cleaner...
Repurchase? Not this particular scent, but possibly another scent in the future.
Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub
I really liked this - it was the first lip scrub I'd tried and I found it very effective in removing dead, dry skin. The Popcorn scent was really nice, more of a sugary-salty-caramel than actual popcorn. However, it was a slight nuisance to use as the sugary bits would often fall so I always made sure to do it over a sink. It's very expensive for what it is so a luxury product for me. I get the job done with a face cloth in the shower.
Repurchase? In the future, yes but it's not an essential.
Nivea Caramel Cream Lip Butter
Probably one of my favourite lip balms. I find this super moisturising, creamy and it smells delicious! I found this really helped heal my lips when they were irritated, but not if they are severely dry or chapped.
Repurchase? Yes, but I'm trying to get through other lip balms at the moment.
Labels:
A'kin,
Beauty Care Co,
body,
Clear haircare,
Empties,
Garnier,
Goldwell,
hair,
Kosmea,
La Roche-Posay,
Lush,
Nivea,
Original Source,
Sally Hansen,
skincare,
Soap & Glory
06/02/2014
Empties #3
The third installment of my empties posts is probably long overdue (it's been about four or five months since my last one), but alas I don't have a huge collection of empty products to share. I just don't finish things very quickly! I don't get how people can accumulate bags full of empties after only a month. Anyways I thought I would share the products I've run out of recently and my thoughts on them.
Organic Everescents Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
My mum won these in a pack from her hairdresser and she gave them to me as she prefers volumising products. I really enjoyed these! The are fully free of silicones, sulfates and parabens and are made up of really good ingredients. Also, the packaging is made out of recycled plastic! I didn't find these intensively moisturising, but they did leave my hair feeling soft and clean. The shampoo lathered pretty well despite being sulphate free.
Repurchase? Probably not as they are quite expensive and there are other sulphate free shampoos/conditioners that I would like to try.
Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion
A nice, basic body moisturiser. It's a nice thin, lotion consistency that sinks in and absorbs into the skin quite quickly. It has a lovely clean scent too. My skin was soft and nourished after use and for the day following.
Repurchase? Probably
I really liked this for a basic but intensively moisturising night cream. It wasn't too heavy or greasy feeling on the skin and absorbed reasonably quickly. It left my skin feeling very moisturised and soft in the morning, and I had pretty much no dry patches while I was using this!
Repurchase? Not at the moment, though possibly in the future.
I really loved this toner! It felt like a nice clarifying toner but contained really lovely ingredients that left my skin feeling refreshed rather that tight or dry.
Repurchase? Probably in the future!
Estee Lauder Idealist
A couple of samples I finished up that lasted me quite a while actually. I used it both as a slight (and subtle) illuminator mixed in, and a morning time serum. It was a pleasure to use and felt lovely on the skin though I don't really think it yielded any long term results in terms of brightening or evening out the skin tone.
Repurchase? No
Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion
I had a sample of this which lasted a decent while. I used this on any cystic or under-the-skin pimples which is what it is designed for. I found it did work really well on them, helping bringing them to the surface quicker and reducing any pain. Whether I found it to be more effective than your standard spot treatment...I don't think I had enough to truly ascertain.
Repurchase? Maybe, I might get another sample first.
Holy grail product. Helps clear up my acne as well as prevent it. I'm halfway through my second tube and have a third waiting in the wings.
Repurchase? Definitely!
Beauty Care Co Makeup Remover Pads
These are the cheapest cotton pads I've seen around - 200 for $2. Granted, they're not the best quality. They are thin and do fall apart quite easily, but for me they do the job. I'm not really fussed at all and honestly will grab the cheapest I can get. I've finished about three (100 pads per) packs and am working on one more right now.
Repurchase? Probably, unless I find something cheaper.
Beauty Care Co Green Tea Facial Wipes
These are a little on the dry side, but the towelettes themselves are decently soft and don't irritate my face or eyes. They remove everything bar waterproof mascara. I still go in with a cleanser as they don't completely clean my face, and definitely don't get deep down into the skin. These are also $2.
Repurchase? I'm halfway through another pack and unless I find something cheaper I'll probably buy them again.
Michika Complexion Synergist Facial Mask
My first experience with sheet masks and I quite liked using these. I still have three left. They left my skin feeling very soft and I do think it offered slight instantaneous brightening effects. Thye did sting a little in my eyes though, nothing crazy unbearable but just a little bit of irritation.
Repurchase? I'd like to try out other sheet masks before I come back to these.
Essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara
Dayum, I'm pretty sure I used every last drop of this! It works well and does the job at a very low price. The packaging is super shoddy though, the spoolie broke off and the lid died a bit. Regardless, it was obviously still useable, albeit a little gross!
Repurchase? Yes - and already have!
I really liked this but when it started to smudge on me and smell a bit funky, I knew it was time to bin it. It contained fibres which made my lashes look longer, and it held a curl like no other! A really lovely mascara!
Repuchase? If I ever have the opportunity again - maybe! Though I will try new ones before returning to this one.
Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express mascara
I think I've had this WAY too long and it just needed to be binned. It was still useable though but towards the end I didn't notice it doing too much for my lashes. It was a nice mascara but since my lashes are pretty weak to begin with, it didn't have any extraordinary results.
Repurchase? No.
Products getting the chuck:
The Garnier BB cream is pretty atrocious - little coverage, quite orangey and left me very oily. Should have thrown it out long ago! Clinique lipstick that is sheer and frosty. The Napoleon lip glosses I actually really liked, I got them free a few years ago so they're pretty old now and the packaging was leaky and bad. They were a bit sticky too.
Hope you guys enjoyed this empties post! I feel like I might have a few more products next time (maybe) as I'm nearly finished a few.
22/08/2013
Empties #2
Hey guys! Today I have another empties post as it has been about 3 months since my last one! I finished up a few products but I also culled a few makeup items from my collection! Let's get into it!
Hair and body first!
Salon Professional Repair Mask:
This was a small size hair mask which I used up. I quite liked this and it claimed to repair the hair, etc. but you can't really tell if it does can you? I found that it was only slightly more moisturising than my conditioner so I didn't find it particularly great as a mask. As expected though, it left my hair feeling soft and nourished.
Repurchase? No, there are better hair masks out there.
Organic Everescents Organic Bergamot Conditioner:
I finished up a travel size (100mL) of this conditioner for normal/dry hair. I really like this brand as it is totally organic, no sulphates, etc however I did not really like this product. I found that it didn't really do anything for my hair - it sort of just went on then rinsed out, without providing any moisture. I ended up using this to clean my brushes in the end. I have tried the moisturising shampoo and conditioner from this brand which I much prefer!
Repurchase? No
Neutrogena Sport Face Sunscreen:
This actually isn't empty but rather expired (about a year ago too...whoops!). I really enjoyed this sunscreen however I like the Dry Touch one much better (also from Neutrogena). I find this one is slightly more greasy, but not at all bad for wearing under makeup.
Repurchase? No
Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill Body wash:
Another mini body wash, this one also from a gift set I received. I like to alternate between body washes and the Dove beauty bars so I'm mostly trying to use them up! They're all pretty much the same to me, and the scent wasn't bad but I got pretty bored with it.
Repurchase? Nope, already moved on to other body washes!
Some skincare - yay!
Garnier Dark Spot corrector:
I've already got a review up here so I won't talk too much about it. I thoroughly enjoyed this product and loved it as a morning time moisturiser. I found it actually really did help with my acne scarring in lightening it, however it did not totally diminish them.
Repurchase? I already have!
Origins Super Spot Remover:
I also have a review on this here. I found this a little bit underwhelming probably due to the fact that it was very raved about. It wasn't a bad spot treatment by any means, but I found it didn't clear up spots that quickly, and they still left scars.
Repurchase? Not at the moment, I wouldn't rule it out, but I definitely want to try others first.
Clinique All about eyes eye cream:
Another sample size, however this one lasted legit AGES. I swear, eye cream samples are, like, a full size product in themselves. I found this moisturising and if I put it on on a late night or before an early morning (pretty much if I'm not going to get much sleep) it helped prevent the puffy eyes I tend to get. I don't have problems with dark circles so I can't comment on that.
Repurchase? I've actually got another of these waiting in the wings, but I probably wouldn't purchase it - it's expensive and I like trying new things!
The next three products I spoke about in my Little Luxuries post so I won't ramble too much!
Clinique Moisture surge intense:
Lovely moisturiser! Very light on the skin, but intensely moisturising!
Repurchase? I would consider in the future, however I've got another night cream I'm using now.
SKII Cellumination Essence and Whitening Source Derm Brightener:
Honestly, I didn't notice anything drastic with these products. They are only sample sizes so they didn't have a lot of opportunity to work wonders. I noticed maybe, a slight, brightening effect with the Cellumination Essence, but not much. I'm actually using another of the Cellumination Essence, so we'll see how it goes!
Repurchase? No, they are very expensive and I wasn't impressed with the samples.
Maybelline Baby lips in Mango Pie:
I've finished about five tubes of this stuff (different flavours) and I used to be infatuated! However, I've come to quite dislike the formula. It is quite cream-y as opposed to a gel or a balm and inexplicably it feels weird on my lips, coupled with the scent and taste of the product. Not a bad lip balm at all and I like the inclusion of SPF 15 however I feel I have out grown these!
Repurchase? Maybe in the future, but probably only the menthol flavour as that was my favourite.
Estee Lauder More Than Mascara:
I do believe that this has been discontinued but this was my favourite mascara at one point. I loved the very natural, fluttery lash look it gave me with no clumps in sight! It didn't flake or smudge on me and I absolutely love the wand. I do think that this has a nourishing formula for the lashes? I actually did notice that my baby lashes grew quicker with this (maybe it's my imagination?).
Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer:
This was a smaller size and I enjoyed using it. I found it quite long wearing however it did accentuate dry patches as it wore. It was suitable under the eyes and on blemishes, however like I said it did cling to dry skin.
Repurchase? No, there are many other concealers I would like to try!
I wouldn't typically include sachet samples but I thought I would share my thoughts on these.
Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu brightening serum:
This 2mL sample lasted me quite a little while though and I have to say I quite liked this! It smelled of oranges which was very enjoyable. I didn't love that it left my face feeling sticky though. In terms of brightening, suprisingly I think it did help miniscule-ly in fading dark spots.
Purchase? Probably not, at least not until I get my hands on a few more samples.
Jurlique Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator:
I had two of these so I have a resigned opinion on them. I was very excited to use these as they contain AHAs (exfoliating acids) which I've wanted to try for a while, however these sort of did nothing for me. I didn't feel any sensation that indicated that they were working, and my skin texture nor appearance improved after use. Humph.
Purchase? No
The stuff I'm clearing out are pretty much a bunch of lipglosses and a mascara. The mascara is the Maybelline Sky High Curves which has long since been discontinued. It left my lashes a clumpy mess with little length, volume or curl. The lipglosses are mostly sticky and yuk (Model Co and Lancome Juicy Tube minis) or old and yuk (Designer brands). The Designer Brands ones actually weren't that sticky but I've had them for long enough, and the shades are too sparkly for my liking.
WHEW. That was a long ass empties post. If you made it to the end CONGRATS. I realise I wouldn't repurchase the majority of these products which is sad, but I absolutely love trying new things and hardly bog myself down to one product and a lot of these didn't work too well for me, and I feel there are better ones out there yet to be tried! And so, we wait for the next empties to roll around...
Labels:
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skincare
10/05/2013
Empties #1
Hi guys! So today I have my very first empties post! I've been collecting these empties since before I even started blogging! It takes me ages to finish products so don't expect another one of these posts for a good long while! I actually have quite a few products to talk about so I'll try to keep it brief!
First up, I have a few hair bits:
Kerastase Nutritive Thermo-reactive intensive nutrition shampoo:
I really liked this shampoo! I found it really moisturising but not to the point where it made my scalp oily. Sometimes my scalp gets a bit itchy and I found that this was nicely moisturising that I didn't experience that itchiness much. I've also tried the conditioner from this range which I really liked.
Repurchase? Maybe in the future, but I try different shampoos all the time!
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisture & Shine conditioner:
I have used this range of shampoo and conditioner a few times (by times, I mean bottles worth) and while I liked it, it didn't do much. It's targeted for dry/damaged hair but I didn't find it particularly moisturising. It's pretty average in my opinion.
Repurchase? No, like I said, I like to try different ones.
Moroccan Oil:
I really enjoy using hair oils but I find they all pretty much do the same thing. It was nice and moisturised my hair, made it feel soft and look shiny. This one was noticeably thicker in consistency though, so it may weigh down finer hair. It smelled really nice and this sample lasted me quite a while.
Repurchase? Maybe in the future, though I have a couple of hair oils on the go currently.
Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Oil Miracle Gold Shimmer Treatment:
This was a plain hair mask but it was actually shimmery, which was a bit weird but the shimmers didn't stay, they rinsed out as normal. This was pretty typical, it made my hair soft and shiny, but nothing that really wowed me and it didn't help much with damage or preventing it.
Repurchase? No, If you have any good and cheap hair mask recommendations, let me know!
For skincare:
Coles 4in1 Cleansing Wipes:
These claim to do a multitude of things but I didn't find that it lived up to those claims. The wipes themselves weren't super moist, and the actual towlettes were actually kind of scratchy. They removed makeup fine but waterproof mascara took time and effort. They left my skin feeling slightly dry.
Repurchase? No
Simple Refreshing Facial wash gel:
This was a pretty simple (hah) cleanser, pretty basic. Good if you have clear or sensitive skin, but it really doesn't do much. I used it in the morning to get rid of the oils and grime from overnight, and it did a decent job. This was just a travel size though it lasted me ages.
Repurchase? No, I've actually got another travel size of this that I'm yet to use but I wont purchase after finishing that one.
Estee Lauder Hydrationist:
This was just a sample size but it lasted me pretty well and I got a good idea of whether I liked it - which I do! Really moisturising but still very light on the skin. I just really like it!
Repurchase? I would definitely consider purchasing though it is expensive, I really want to try some cheaper alternatives.
Clinique Anti-blemish solutions spot treatment gel:
I had a smaller size of this though I found it lasted me a long long time. Overall, I wasn't a fan. It worked in the first two weeks or so, but then I just found it quite alcohol-y and didn't really get rid of pimples very well.
Repurchase? No
EOS Summer fruit lip sphere:
I enjoyed this, probably my favourite scent out of the ones I tried. I like it because it is thin in texture, therefore nice under lipsticks. But it is still nicely moisturising. I got all the product out by 'depotting' it. Stick a knife in the line next to the rim and it should pop out.
Repurchase? I've still got a few of them on hand, but I probably would in the future once I run out of them all.
MOR Lip macaron in Peach Nectar:
This lasted me a whole year! I use it every night and I find it thick and moisturises well, I can still feel it the next morning. As you can see, I've put the excess EOS lip sphere in here so technically that one isn't completely finished but whatevs.
Repurchase? Probably not, I've actually got two more of these since I bought it in a three pack so I have heaps more to go through.
The Body shop Body Butter:
I'm kind of 'eh' on this product. It was super thick and even maybe hard to spread? But I didn't even feel it was that moisturising for how heavy it was.
Repurchase? No
The Body Shop Shower Gel in cherry Blossom:
A shower gel. I find they all do the same thing. I liked the scent, pretty subtle and floral. I don't generally use shower gel, I really like the Dove beauty bars. I received this as a gift so I took it travelling and what not.
Repurchase? No
Onto the Miscellaneous:
Kmart candles in Comforting Vanilla & Jasmine and Fig & Papaya:
I talked about the scents here so I won't waste my breath (or finger muscles?). I will say that I emptied out the wax using the freezer method. Simply put them in the freezer for a couple of hours and pry out the wax using a knife. It should pop out pretty easily.
Repurchase? Definitely, my two favourite scents from the range.
Oral B Satin Floss:
Hmm, I don't really know why I included this? Haha, didn't really like it though. It was kind of like tape? So too thick for my liking.
Repurchase? No
Blink Eye drops:
My eyes get pretty dry and red at times, this one did the job.
Repurchase? Probably
Whowheeee, that was a looooong post. If you stuck it out till the end, good job! Haha, well I probably won't have another of these posts for ages so enjoy it!
Labels:
Bath,
clinique,
Empties,
EOS,
Estee Lauder,
hair,
Kerastase,
MOR,
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skincare,
The Body Shop








