Recapping Project Pan

Today is my proper, final post in the Project Pan series! I have enjoyed being part of this project a lot and seeing how much progress I could make with my selected products. I also want to thank my three Candadian collaborators for having me on board (#ProjectPanClan) and their general amazingness: Stashy – Stash Matters, Jodi – A Brash Attitude and Ingrid – Curly Spring Blossom.

Summary

• I was surprised at how many uses certain products take to finish. I thought I would finish a few more products than I did.
• I made a good dent in all of the products. My most used product was The Body Shop’s Strawberry Lip Butter and my least used product was Cutex’s Strengthening Nail Polish Remover.
• I finished two out of my eleven products; Collection’s Lasting Perfection concealer and The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil hand cream.
• I didn’t get tired of using the same products over the course of the eleven weeks.
• I don’t regret purchasing any of these products and committing to this project reminded me why I like them and purchased them in the first place.
• I don’t intend to throw any of the nine remaining products away, I will continue to use them up.

Statistics

1. Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm – Used 12x in total. Rating: 10/10.

2. The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream – Used 46x in total. Rating: 8.5/10. Finished week 11!

3. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation – Used 27x in total. Rating: 8/10.

4. Britney Spears – Curious – In Control – Used 24x in total. Rating: 9/10.

5. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends – Used 22x in total. Rating: 7.5/10.

6. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist – Used 30x in total. Rating: 6/10. (Looking back I think I was harsh on this product. I’ve enjoyed using it after moisturiser and before foundation these past few weeks).

7. Natio Clay and Plant Face Mask Purifier – Used 11x in total. Rating: 7/10.

8. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – Used 55x in total. Rating: 9.5/10. Finished week 10!

9. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder – Used 15x in total. Rating: 8/10.

10. The Body Shop Strawberry Lip Butter – Used 60x in total. Rating: 8.5/10.

11. Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover – Used 10x in total. Rating: 9/10.

Total number of uses over 11 weeks = 312 times

Average product rating = 8.3/10

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Final Progress: 28 November – 5 December*

1. Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm – Used 3x.
2. The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream – Finished week 11!
3. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige – Used 3x.
4. Britney Spears Curious – In Control – Used 2x.
5. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail – Used 2x.
6. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist – Used 4x.
7. Natio Clay and Plant Face Mask Purifier – Used 2x.
8. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – Finished week 10!
9. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder – Used 2x.
10. The Body Shop Strawberry Lip Butter – Used 4x.
11. Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover – Used 1x.

*These uses aren’t counted as part of the 312 mentioned under ‘Stastics.’

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Don’t forget to check out the recaps from my collaboration partners:

• Stash Matters
• A Brash Attitude
• Curly Spring Blossom

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Project Pan Week 5: Fudge Urban Miracle Ends

Happy Monday and welcome to week five of Project Pan! Project Pan follows Stash Matters, A Brash Attitude, Curly Spring Blossom and I as we pick 12 products to try and hit pan on/empty over 12 weeks (11 in my case).

This week I’m talking about a hair product from Fudge Urban called Miracle Ends. Miracle Ends has a deliciously fruity scent and name – Tropical Cocktail.

About

I bought this product back in March and I used to use this almost daily on my hair for the first couple of months. There is still a decent amount of product left in the tube seven months later.

I purchased this after seeing it featured on Karen’s blog (Confetti & Curves). The way Karen described the scent had me hooked and when I smelt this in real life, I understood what she was going on about. This smells absolutely delightful and I believe this scent would make such a nice body spray.

When I first purchased this I would massage it into the ends of my hair before bed of an evening but now I tend to use it if my hair looks like it needs taming during the day or after I’ve used styling tools.

From the website:

Product Description

Seal split and dry ends. Apply to dry hair for serious de-frizz. Use post blow dry for natural shine. Repair & condition with Argan Oil.

How To Use

Work through mid-lengths & dry ends for a textured finish with natural shine. Place on wet or dry hair that’s naturally curly to tame unruly locks.

pros

• Pretty packaging
• Yummy scent
• A little goes a long way so this tube will last a while

Cons

• Could require daily use depending on the condition of your hair
• Not holy grail status

Chanelle’s rating: 7.5/10 – I loved this product when I first bought it but I don’t use it as much now. I do really like using this on my hair to keep it silky and smooth after it’s been straightened. The rating doesn’t necessarily reflect the product but rather how often I reach for it and if I’d purchase it again. Don’t get me wrong, the product is great but I don’t get excited when I use it.

The Remaining products – Progress

 

 

1. Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm – Unfortunately this was only used once again this week.
2. The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream – Used 5x. My hand has been a lot better.
3. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige – Used 2x.
4. Britney Spears Curious – In Control – Used 1x.
5. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist – Used 3x. This is one product I am 95% certain I will finish.
6. Natio Clay and Plant Face Mask Purifier – Used 1x.
7. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – Used daily. I didn’t wear a full face of makeup everyday but I did use concealer to cover up my redness.
8. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder – Used 2x.
   
9. The Body Shop Strawberry Lip Butter – Used 5x.
   
10. Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover –Didn’t use this week. I painted my nails last Monday and they’re still going strong.

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Don’t forget to check out this week’s posts from my collaboration partners:

• Stash Matters
• A Brash Attitude
• Curly Spring Blossom

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Project Pan: Spring Collab

Happy Wednesday! Hope your week is going well so far! I’m very excited to share that I will be joining Stashy, Jodi and Ingrid as part of a Project Pan collaboration. While these three lovelies will be doing an Autumn project pan, mine will be a Spring project pan as I live on the other side of the world. The aim of this collab is to choose 12 items (I’m cheating slightly, I will only be choosing 11) that you want to pan/empty. The first reviews went up on Monday (links at the end of the post) but I didn’t decide to take part in the collab until late last week so my first post will be up NEXT Monday, September 19th.

What Is Project Pan?

Panning usually means setting yourself a goal to finish products by a certain date. I was interested in taking part because I wanted to make a significant dent in certain products in my collection and try and finally finish a few that I’ve had sticking around for a while. I didn’t set myself a crazy task to finish unopened products and I’d be happy if I could finish 50% of these products by the end of this project. I wanted to take the opportunity today to introduce you to what I’ll be trying to use up this season.

The Schedule:

• September 19th – Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm
• September 26th – The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream
• October 3rd – Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige
• October 10th – Britney Spears Curious – In Control Fragrance
• October 17th – Fudge Urban Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail
• October 24th – The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist
• October 31st – Natio Clay and Plant Face Mask Purifier
• November 7th – Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair
• November 14th – Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder
• November 21st – The Body Shop Strawberry Lip Butter
  
• November 28th – Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover

How It Works

Each Monday for the next 11 weeks I will be reviewing one of the products listed above. After all products have been reviewed, there will be a post to recap and gather my thoughts and final findings. I will keep a weekly tally of how often the products are used and post it along with each review.

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Don’t forget to check out this week’s posts from my collaboration partners:

• Stashy – Stash Matters
• Jodi – A Brash Attitude
• Ingrid – Curly Spring Blossom

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I’m really looking forward to this project and seeing how much progress I make with my chosen products! Have you ever done something similar before?

Nighttime Routine

Over the past couple of months I have gotten into a regular routine and developed a nightly regime to help combat the effects of winter weather. In this post I will be discussing the products I have been turning to keep my skin, hair, lips and hands looking tip top! Let’s jump straight in!

Step One – Skin

I moisturise twice a day: morning and night and a couple of months ago I purchased The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream. Previously, I had been using my regular daytime moisturiser at night as well but I found that it didn’t seem to keep my skin hydrated enough and I wanted to try something specifically for evening use. I first read about the Vitamin E Night Cream over on Rachel’s blog and I’m so glad I gave it a go because it has been working wonders. I wake up with supple skin and no dry face. My makeup has been applying better too.

I use the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream six nights a week, every night except for Sunday. Once a week I apply a face mask and I find my skin is hydrated enough without applying the Night Cream over top. I use Natio’s Face Mask Purifier which is a clay mask. This mask helps to unclog and tighten pores and my skin instantly feels smoother after removal.

If I have a blemish or spot I apply a little bit of DQ & Co.’s Love Your Skin Balm. It is formulated with Manuka Honey and Vitamin A to promote healing and minimise scarring.

Step Two – Hair

I like to keep my haircare routine simple and easy and for this I have been using Fudge Urban’s Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail. This is another product I picked up upon recommendation from a blogger; Karen this time. I apply a little more than a pea sized amount of product to my palms before dispersing it through the ends of my hair. My hair is long so I apply from the mid lengths to the ends. I absolutely adore this product for a number of reasons – smell and texture being the standouts. This doesn’t feel greasy to apply nor does it make hair look greasy.

Chanelle’s Tip: I also like to apply this after I’ve straightened my hair to keep it looking slick, shiny and frizz-free.

Step Three – Lips

I have had this little pot of Strawberry Lip Butter from The Body Shop for a year now and there is still a ton of product left! I’ll admit, up until a few months ago when I started this routine I only used this lip butter off and on. I didn’t want it to get left by the wayside and just sit there until I remembered to use it so I’ve started applying lip balm each night before I go to bed. My lips don’t get dry very much but this ensures they stay even softer and won’t chap. The smell of this is divine and every night when I apply it I give it a sniff!

Step Four – Hands/Nails

Hand cream is one of my daily essentials and I actually picked up this one from (my old) workplace earlier this year. The Pomegranate Hand & Nail Cream contains 50ml of product which is a lot compared to others out there. This cost roughly the same price as a 30ml tube of hand cream from The Body Shop and has nearly twice the amount of product. Olive is a New Zealand brand which boasts all natural ingredients. Again, this smells absolutely divine (like bubblegum), and the texture is very moisturising. The product is non-greasy and soaks in quickly.

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As you can see, my nighttime routine is relatively simple. I don’t like to over-complicate things, I prefer to stick with what I know and I try to minimise the amount of products I use. Do you have a nighttime routine? What are your favourite products to use?

Blogger Made Me Buy It

One of my favourite parts of blogging is discovering new and interesting products and being able to try them out. When it comes to money and spending, 9 times out of 10 I will purchase a product for a specific purpose as opposed to buying it because I feel like it (although that has happened in the past). Today I have a handful of products to talk about that fellow bloggers have convinced me to buy. Keep reading to find out whether they’re as good as they have been made out to be!

1. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail

I don’t tend to do a lot with my hair but I have changed that recently. I’m lucky my hair is in good condition so I don’t need to use a lot of product and I have a simple hair care routine. I apply this to the ends of my hair at night and when I first began applying it I noticed a difference straight away. My hair feels even softer using this product, particularly when I blow dry or straighten it. The best part about this is the smell. The smell is fruity and tropical but not overpowering in the slightest – I believe this scent would make a lovely body spray. Not only is this a nice smelling product, it does live up to it’s claims. It seals split and dry ends, repairs, conditions and nourishes hair and can be used wet or dry. Argan Oil hydrates hair and and helps to create a natural shine.

Blogger who made me buy it: Karen (Confetti and Curves)

2. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil – Hazel

My natural brows are thick and quite dark but since buying this brow pencil there have only been a handful of times I haven’t reached for it and that’s normally when I’m having a no makeup day or wearing minimal makeup. I really like the shade hazel because the colour is not too dark, it blends in nicely with my natural brow colour and pulls on the auburn tones of my hair. I have had the pencil for three months now and have only had to sharpen it a couple of times. I do see the difference this makes to my brows even though it is subtle and I like it!

Blogger who made me buy it: Claire (Clarina Beauty) 

3. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 01 Fair

This wee tube of concealer is often talked about in the blogging world and for good reason! I use the lightest shade which is perfect for my skin tone and the coverage and formula of the product is exceptional. This concealer doesn’t cling to any dry patches or crease and I find it really good for my complexion. It doesn’t break me out or make my t-zone oily and it is certainly a product I will be repurchasing!

Blogger who made me buy it: Again, Claire (Clarina Beauty) but there are a number of bloggers who sing its’ praises.

4. The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream

This is the product I have owned for the shortest amount of time out of everything on this list but it is fast becoming a firm favourite! I purchased this night cream a few weeks ago as I wanted to use something more nourishing and hydrating than my regular moisturiser at night time. I apply this after removing my makeup for the day and it is doing wonders for my skin. The tub contains 50ml which may not seem like a lot but I apply this sparingly and when I wake up my skin doesn’t feel dry and my makeup is applying better and looking nicer. The Body Shop’s Vitamin E range has a rose scent which you may not be a fan of (I am) but that pales in comparison to how good the product is. This soaks in quickly and doesn’t give skin a greasy feel while still keeping it moisturised and supple.

Blogger who made me buy it: Rachel (Rachel’s Beauty Talk)

5. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer – 01 Light Matte

If you’re extremely fair skinned, new to bronzers and looking for a matte bronzer to help contour or just to use all over the face, the honey bronzers from The Body Shop are a winner! I purchased this back in January as part of my Birthday Body Shop Haul and this is my go to when I’m feeling a little pale and just want to add a bit more colour to my face. It is pretty difficult to go over the top with this particular shade as it is so light but I don’t find myself needing to use a lot of product to get a good payoff either. I apply this using my Real Techniques Blush Brush as it is nice and fluffy and sweeps the product over my cheeks.

Blogger who made me buy it: Lauren (Styled By Lauren) and Estée (Estée Lalonde)

6. W7 Power Puff Makeup Sponge

Sponges have taken the makeup world by storm in the last couple of years and I picked up this Beauty Blender dupe at a makeup sale for $6 to see what all the hype is about. After using it I totally get the appeal! Sponges give a light, streak free finish and while I don’t use this sponge all the time it’s good when my makeup brushes have been washed and need time to dry or to apply my Max Factor foundation in the cooler months to ensure I don’t look orange because it is better suited to my skin tone in the summer.

Blogger who made me buy it: Karen (Confetti and Curves)

7. Rimmel Asia Lipstick

I had brushed this shade off when I initially, it looked like other light pink-blush shades and I didn’t think I needed one in my collection. When I read it was a dupe for MAC shades like Mehr, Twig, Cosmo and Faux I was intrigued and wanted to try it! I thought why pay $40 for a MAC lipstick when I can get something similar from one of my favourite brands for a quarter of the price. As it turns out, Asia isn’t quite as pink as I first thought and makes a great everyday lip colour which is why it featured in my Nude Lipsticks 101 post. The pigmentation is outstanding and the formula is nice and creamy and long lasting on the lips.

Blogger who made me buy it: Claire (EclairsCares)

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I am impressed with all of these products and I tend to trust the opinions of my fellow bloggers – they haven’t led me wrong here! What products have bloggers inspired you to buy?

P.S. Have you entered my GIVEAWAY? CLICK HERE for info!

A Spot o’ Shopping!

Hello there and happy Monday! It seems ever since I started this blog I convince myself there’s another beauty product I ‘need’ and eventually end up buying it. Lots of people probably say this, but my collection isn’t too excessive and I do try to use everything regularly. The past two weekends have involved me nabbing some new beauty bits to try as well as a new pair of yoga/exercise pants. Read on to see what caught my eye!

1. Cotton On On the Run 3/4 Pants  – Blue Ombre Side Panel/Black ($10)

I’ll get the item that you’ll probably find least appealing out of the way first, (most of you are probably here for the makeup). I never used to enjoy buying clothes but I am getting to like having a browse now and again. Yoga pants are so comfortable and even if you don’t wear them for yoga and just wear them around the house you will not regret it! I love the blue ombre effect down the side and even though they are 3/4 length they are full length on me because I’m so short.

2. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail ($9.99)

I picked up a tube of this Fudge Urban lotion after hearing fellow friend and blogger Karen (Confetti and Curves) singing it’s praises. If you’re not tantalised by the delicious scent you will be by it’s promises. Miracle Ends promises to seal split and dry ends, repair and condition with Argan Oil and hydrate and nourish hair. This product can be used wet or dry and alongside styling tools to create smooth hair and a natural shine.

3. Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil – Hazel ($8.92)

I know, I know, you’re probably thinking, Chanelle doesn’t normally buy brow products and you’d be correct. I really liked how my brows looked in my Vanessa White Inspired Makeup and filling them in slightly made a difference. I am lucky to have thick brows naturally so I don’t need to do too much. I picked the shade hazel as it isn’t too dark and has a slight redness to it which will pull on the auburn tones of my hair.

4. Rimmel Oh My Gloss! – #150 Glossaholic ($14.99)

When I first saw images and swatches of this gloss it reminded me of the Ellie Goulding x MAC plushglass in ‘Goodness Gracious.’ The gloss looks slightly opaque and is a warm, creamy pink. Pinks are my favourite to wear and this will be lovely for everyday wear or just throwing something on my lips that’s quick and easy. This would also look nice layered over lipstick to give it a bit more shine. Rimmel’s Oh My Gloss! contains Argan Oil and Vitamin E and is non-sticky and lightweight adding to it’s comfort.

5. Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer – Rich Brown ($13.16)

Another groundbreaking moment for me, I have decided to give eyeliner a go! I was tossing up between brown or black but went for brown in the end as it’s softer and won’t be as harsh while I’m learning to get to grips with applying it. I also figured if I can’t nail the application it might come in handy for filling in my brows. This eyeliner is a retractable pencil and has a smudger at the opposite end for subtle blending and smoking the eyeliner out.

6. Maybelline Dr. Rescue Top Coat ($10.99)

I purchased this top coat last weekend as my previous one became hard and set and had to be thrown out. I really like the way this one was portrayed and I have used it already and I’m impressed. The bottle is so cute and dinky and though it looks pink in the bottle it does in fact apply clear. This top coat vows to give your nails a gel like effect, glossy shine and a plumped up surface. I have never tried a gel polish before so I can’t comment on that but my nails definitely look glossy and have held up very well over the past week.

7. Max Factor Excess Shimmer – 20 Copper ($21.59)

I have been a huge fan of Max Factor’s Lasting Performance Foundation for the past couple of months and instantly wanted to try this product when I spotted it. These look very similar to Maybelline’s Colour Tattoos, they are sold in individual colours and housed in their own little glass pots. Copper is a mid-toned golden brown and the first thing I noticed when I swatched it was how incredible the texture is. It’s a mix between gel and mousse and dare I say it, the texture is more appealing to me than the Colour Tattoos. Everyone mentions how simple and easy the Colour Tattoos are to apply but this is literally one or two swipes and you’re done! These do not crease and last all day. Copper can be worn on it’s own or layered over eyeshadow to illuminate that smoky eye.

Were you out shopping this past weekend like I was – what did you pick up? Let me know if you have you tried any of these items.

Disclaimer: All prices featured are in New Zealand Dollars. Prices listed are those on my receipts and include discounts. Items 4, 6 and 7 were purchased using gift cards and prices reflect what it would have cost to purchase them myself.