Empty Products #5

Each of my empties posts seem to get bigger and this is definitely the biggest one yet! There are 20 empty products in this post and for future posts I will keep to the 10-15 product mark to make the posts easier to digest. I have been amassing these empties since the end of 2017 and I finally got around to sorting them into their categories and taking pictures.

Haircare

1. TRESemmé Moisture Rich Shampoo & Conditioner

I must have had these for about 12 months now. I shampoo the top of my hair and condition the bottom so they last longer than if I applied shampoo and conditioner to both parts of my hair. My hair isn’t dry or damaged but these two keep it nice and soft and not greasy.

Repurchase: Maybe. Definitely not the worst shampoo and conditioner I’ve tried.

2. Daily Defense Argan Oil Treatment

I hadn’t tried a hair treatment before and the smell of this one is lovely! When I started using the treatment a couple of times a week and more regularly I noticed my hair seemed softer and the ends looked tidier.

Repurchase: Maybe. These kind of treatments aren’t essential to my routine but if my hair was dry and brittle I would.

Makeup

3. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige

This is my favourite foundation! The texture is lightweight, the coverage is buildable and it blends nicely into the skin. The packaging is travel friendly and easy to store in your makeup bag. The formula is in-between dewy and matte, I don’t like overly dewy foundations. Powder can be applied over the top but the foundation also looks fine on it’s own.

Repurchase: I have but in the shade, 100 Fair. I would consider Ivory Beige again too because I can make the colour work by using less product.

4. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – 003 Extreme Black

I’ve loved and used this mascara for three years. I found out a couple of months ago the Extreme Black shade (which is better than regular black, don’t ask me why) is being discontinued so I purchased two brand new tubes online. The wand is really good for getting into the lower lashes and the wand has proper bristles as opposed to being a plastic wand.

Repurchase: Yes!

5. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer  – 1 Fair

Ever since I tried this concealer I have stuck with it. I really like the creaminess and pigmentation and how easily it blends into the skin. It covers redness well and makes my skin look more flawless than other concealers I’ve tried.

Repurchase: Yes.

6. Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm

I had this lip balm for about five years but started using it more regularly in the last two. In all that time it applied, smelt and worked the same. I would wear this during the day or apply it before bed and wake up with soft lips the next morning. The pearly tint is subtle and pretty.

Repurchase: If the price is right. I’ve seen this lip balm selling for $7 or more, whereas other Nivea lip balms cost around $4.

7. Sally Hansen Strengthening Nail Polish Remover

I didn’t like this. I found you had to re-soak the cotton pad for each nail as the product didn’t go very far.

Repurchase: No.

Skincare & Fragrance

8. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

I received this as one of the prizes in Stash Matters’ giveaway in 2017. The pot lasted me the best part of a year applying most nights. The formula is lightweight and fragrance free and good for a number of skin types. The cream itself is lovely and the pot is convenient for travel, the 50ml size isn’t too big.

Repurchase: Maybe. This is another product where price becomes a factor. This is a nice night moisturiser but I really like MAC’s Studio Moisture Cream.

9. Revlon Fire & Ice Rollerball

I got this rollerball in a gift set a few Christmases ago and I love the rollerball more than the bottle of fragrance that was also in the gift set. Fire & Ice has been around since 1994. It’s more mature than my other scents and lasts well throughout the day. The warm vanilla element is beautiful.

Repurchase: If I find the rollerball.

10. Impulse – Into Glamour

Into Glamour has featured in a few of these empties posts so it’s a well loved scent by me. I haven’t been using Impulse much lately as I’m trying to use up a couple of fragrance mists from The Body Shop for my project pan.

Repurchase: Yes.

11. Simple Brightening Moisturiser

The formula of this moisturiser is thicker than others by Simple which I prefer. It has mango goodness to help brighten the skin and make it look more radiant. When I use this moisturiser as a base under makeup, makeup always looks nice. The moisturiser has SPF and like other products by Simple is fragrance free. This small size is perfect for travel and when I stayed with my ex-boyfriend.

Repurchase: I have.

12. Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser

This has been my go to daily moisturiser for years. The amount of product for the price you pay is such a good deal.  If you have sensitive or dry skin you should try this! In my opinion the replenishing rich moisturiser is better than the hydrating light moisturiser also by Simple..

Repurchase: I am currently using a moisturiser by Olay but I’m sure I will at some point.

13. Juicy Couture – Viva la Juicy

This is my favourite perfume and the 100ml bottle lasted for around three years. I don’t wear this everyday, I tend to save it for special occasions or days I feel like wearing it. The longevity is amazing, the scent lasts on my skin all day. I feel like this scent suits my personality, it’s girly and sweet but sophisticated and fresh.

Repurchase: Already have.

Body

14. Body Fleur Sugar Petals Body Lotion

I got this body lotion a couple of years ago and would use it on and off because I thought it irritated my skin but it didn’t, the heat was irritating my skin as I’d use this in summer. The scent is a mix of fruit, flowers and shea and it would make a lovely perfume!. The lotion contains aloe vera and is very moisturising and soft.

Repurchase: Yes, but this has been discontinued.

15. The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter 50ml

This body butter is one of The Body Shop’s cult classics! The texture is softer and not as firm as others from The Body Shop and I prefer the soft, malleable texture. The body butter soaks in quickly, keeps skin nourished and the strawberry scent is gorgeous.

Repurchase: Yes.

16. The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter 200ml

One of these big tubs usually lasts me around six months. The scent of this is a mix between chocolate and the (discontinued) Brazil Nut range from The Body Shop. I have the Cocoa Butter body lotion and it doesn’t smell as good.

Repurchase: If the range comes back, only the body butter 😛

17. The Body Shop Mango Hand Cream

I liked the tropical, fruity scent of this hand cream and it did feel more moisturising than the strawberry hand cream but I prefer other scents more.

Repurchase: Maybe.

18. The Body Shop Strawberry Hand Cream

This hand cream had more of a gel formula and didn’t feel as moisturisng as the mango one. I prefer the strawberry scent but the mango formula.

Repurchase. Maybe.

19. Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant – Clear x2

I’ve used this anti-perspirant for years and it’s featured in every empties.

Repurchase: Yes.

20. Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant  – Fresh

Still a good anti-perspirant but I don’t like this scent as much as the Clear one.

Repurchase: No.

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What was the last product you finished up?

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July Favourites 2017

This month my favourites are VERY beauty based. I have been enjoying coming up with different makeup looks again for the first time in a while and I think that’s because I have had new products to sink my teeth into. I have been reaching for these products frequently over the past four weeks.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Bold Lipstick – Luscious Raspberry (sample) – I was given this at work (I’m known as the lipstick girl) and it is absolutely gorgeous! Creamy, high impact colour combines the coverage and intensity of a lipstick with the finish of a gloss. This sample has a doe foot applicator which I imagine would be better than the push lever/click pen of the full sized version. The colour lasts all day and doesn’t feel sticky for a gloss finish. I love the colour but I am undecided if I would purchase the full version because of the applicator.

2. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – I have been forgetting to mention this face cream. I made a mental note to include it in a favourites post and this month I finally remembered! This face cream has such a lovely texture, it’s lightweight but soaks into the skin quickly and keeps it hydrated. It doesn’t irritate dry patches and a little goes a long way. I started using the Kiehl’s as my night moisturiser when I finished The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Night Cream and this blows The Body Shop cream out of the water! I highly recommend trying this whatever skin type you have. Sometimes I even use this during the day and it works just as well.

3. Essie – Bahama Mama – I bought this nail polish back in January and it is the perfect winter Berry shade. The name is also super cute! Bahama Mama is described as a warm, rich, deep plum which is spot on. This polish is typical Essie quality – good – and is opaque in two coats.

4. MAC Show Orchid – I made my first trip to the MAC counter in nearly a year at the beginning of July (albeit unexpected). The best part about this lipstick is I didn’t have to pay a cent for it. I had gift cards to use and my boyfriend treated me and paid the rest. Show Orchid is a “very hot pink” with an amplified finish meaning the lipstick is highly pigmented and won’t dry out the lips. Show Orchid has a slight shimmer to it which only adds to the beauty. This is such a Chanelle colour and will be worn a lot!

5. Rimmel Scandaleyes Reloaded – This mascara was purchased back in April and over the past month or so I have been using it regularly. The formula has dried out a bit and gives a nicer effect than the wet formula when I first started using it. This is such a good everyday mascara if you want defined natural lashes with a bit of volume. I did purchase the washable version but compared to other Rimmel mascaras I’ve tried this takes a little longer to remove. There’s no harsh scrubbing required though, which is a plus.

July’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in July?

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Stashy’s Giveaway Prize + First Impressions

It’s exactly two weeks since a very exciting parcel arrived all the way from Canada! I was selected as the lucky winner of Stash Matters’ giveaway back in January and I was over the moon when the goodies arrived! The shipping was pretty quick and didn’t take long at all. Everything was packaged so well and it was lovely of Stashy to include a card (which nearly made me cry) and a few little extras. I wanted to do this post to thank Stashy and share my first impressions of the products as well. I’ve been doing my best to try out all of the products over the past two weeks but I haven’t quite got to everything yet!

The card – how cute are the stickers?!

Like Stashy did in her giveaway post, I will break everything down into categories to make it easier.

Skincare

1. Sukin Micellar Water – I like the fact this bottle isn’t as big as some of the others on the market. Garnier’s 400ml is just too much, I didn’t use all the product within six months as advised on the bottle. This has a nice scent to it and I’ve used it a handful of times so far.

2. MUJI Sensitive Skin Moisture Toner – This may be bad but I’ve never used toner before. I don’t even know what they’re supposed to do. I like the packaging of this, it feels sturdy and you can see exactly how much is left. This will become part of my makeup removing routine.

3. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – Haven’t used this yet but this is one of the items I was most excited about. My skin can get dry sometimes so I’m hoping this will combat that dryness.

4. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm – This tub is huge! I have been using this as the first step to take off my makeup and I like the balm to oil formula once it comes into contact with your hands. I find a little goes a long way and this will last me ages!

5. Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Honey – Haven’t used. Next time I’m just chilling at home on a day off from work (sometimes I get busy on days off) I will try this.

6. Etude House 0.2 Therapy Air Mask x5 (Snail x2, Aloe x1, Hyaluronic Acid x2) – Sheet masks are foreign territory to me but I’m looking forward to trying these. The aloe and hyaluronic acid masks sound particularly appealing.

Body Care

7. Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant in Vanilla Coconut – Sadly this isn’t my favourite giveaway item. The scent of this is nice and the formula is creamy and doesn’t irritate my skin but I don’t find this as effective as my usual deodorant. I might reserve this for cooler months or nighttime after I shower.

Makeup

8. CoverGirl TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette in Roses – This palette is the Naked 3 dupe I’ve been missing. I’ve got a W7 dupe palette but it’s crap and this is so much better. The colours are all so stunning and the formula is buttery soft.

9. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara – I hadn’t even taken this out of the packaging until Monday this week. I have heard so many good things about this mascara and I hope it lives up to the hype! I’m also glad this is the washable version, the last waterproof Maybelline mascara I had was a pain to remove and I began to resent buying it because of that.

10. Teeez Spectrum of Stars Eyeshadows in Smokey Rose – Worn once. I love the box and packaging, it’s almost lip balm like. This shade looks lovely by itself and the duo chrome effect is subtle but pretty. This is actually a really nice shade for everyday wear.

11. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal – This mini is one of my favourites from the parcel. When I opened it up I couldn’t believe the cuteness. The product itself is gorgeous and a little goes a long way. I can see myself wearing this a lot.

12. Lancôme Juicy Shaker in Berry in Love – This is another unused product but I can’t wait to try it! I loved the look of this shade when Stashy purchased one for herself. Berry In Love is very much a Chanelle colour. I’m excited to be able to try so many new, higher end brands.

13. MAC Lipstick in Brave – One word, stunning! This lipstick colour is the shade I didn’t know I was missing. I love this lipstick so much and I’ve only owned it for two weeks. If you love Syrup (like me) or you’re looking for a new neutral lippy, you’ll love this.

Tools

14. Surratt Relevée Lash Curler – I haven’t used these. I admit I am still slightly intimidated about giving them a go in case I chop my eyelashes off but I will try them sometime soon.

15. H&M Precision Makeup Sponge – I am a fan of the other makeup sponge I have but having another is super handy. This sponge is so soft and washes up nicely. It even comes in it’s own little bag.

After receiving the package I had some questions about certain products and how best to use them which Stashy was more than happy to answer. In some ways I still consider myself a beauty novice and it was good to hear her experience and knowledge. Thanks so much Stashy!

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I hope you enjoyed reading this post! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you think!