Empty Products #14

My first empties round up post lockdown! Has anyone else noticed they have been using less   due to not wearing making and not using as many beauty products? On the whole this bunch of products wasn’t the best for being ones I love and would gladly repurchase but there are a couple I really enjoyed.

Haircare

1. Schwarzkopf Leave In Treatment

I would apply this product after a shower when my hair was 80% dry and let it soak in. The smell was pleasant, my hair did look sleeker as opposed to if I didn’t use this but it’s not a product I’ve missed since finishing it up.

Repurchase: Probably not.

2. Schwarzkopf Ultimate Repair Shampoo

The scent of this is very manly but not in a good way. I didn’t find this worked well on my hair and I didn’t enjoy using it.

Repurchase: No.

3. Schwarzkopf Ultimate Repair Conditioner

Usually I can remember if I preferred a shampoo or conditioner more but I can’t with this range, I just know I wasn’t a fan of either of these.

Repurchase: No.

Makeup/Beauty

4. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream in Fair

This CC Cream is totally worth the hype! I purchased a 12ml deluxe sample from Sephora in December and love how this looks on my skin each time I wear it. The quality day after day is consistent and it makes such a lovely everyday base. One light layer of product was enough for the finish I like and this does not cling to dry patches, it skims over the skin and gives a natural, healthy look. Product can be layered but I found I didn’t need more than one layer. I did notice Fair was a slightly better match for me in summer as opposed to autumn but I can still make the shade work.

Repurchase: Maybe. I see IT Cosmetics have come out with a new Fair Ivory shade but not in the 12ml size yet. I’d want to try the smaller size first in the new shade.

5. YSL Volume Effet Cils The Curler Mascara

I got this mascara as part of a set of YSL minis last year and started using it in February this year. The mascara has a plastic wand which I’m not usually a fan of but this formula was so good I didn’t mind the brush not having real bristles. This mascara gives length and volume and it’s super black which I love, it adds to the drama and really makes your eyeshadow pop. The formula was consistent throughout the time I used this and it was a nice medium between wet and dry. The formula wasn’t sticky and layered well without clumping.

Repurchase: No, sadly. Not because the product is bad but no full sized mascara is worth $70 – that’s ridiculous!

6. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel

This brow pencil is all I have used to fill in my brows for the past four years. This shade matches in with my auburn hair perfectly.

Repurchase: Already have.

7. Delon Regular Nail Polish Remover

This did the job and wasn’t harsh on my nails when it came to removing nail polish but I didn’t like it as much as the Cutex Strengthening nail polish remover I tried years ago and loved. The Cutex product is difficult to track down though.

Repurchase: If it was the only type available then yes but there are other nail polish removers I prefer.

Skincare & Fragrance

8. The Body Shop Mandarin Energizing Face Mist

I purchased this thinking it would be similar to The Body Shop’s Vitamin C mist as they both target tired, dull skin and aim to give it a boost. I did not enjoy the scent of this and it felt a little sticky on the face. It didn’t soak in and leave my skin hydrated, it just kind of sat on top of other products.

Repurchase: No, my least favourite face mist out of all The Body Shop ones I’ve tried.

Body

9. The Body Shop Warm Vanilla Body Butter

When I purchased this body butter I was overwhelmed at how sweet the scent was but once I started using it the sweetness was manageable. The scent is easier to digest in smaller doses and the sweetness wasn’t too much once product had soaked into the skin. As with other body butters this feels lovely and silky to apply and keeps skin nourished and soft.

Repurchase: Possibly. This was part of a Christmas range but The Body Shop tend to release a vanilla scent nearly every Christmas.

10. Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant – Clear

Holy grail! This features in every empties for a reason.

Repurchase: Yes.

11. Dove Invisible Dry Anti-White Marks Deodorant

I strayed from my trusty Nivea anti-perspirant and this was nowhere near as good! The product was more like a cream than a liquid when applying it and it felt a little sticky. Product didn’t feel as moisturising on the underarms and I felt more sweaty. I used this during autumn/winter mainly working from home so I wasn’t getting particularly hot either.

Repurchase: No.

Discards

1. Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow – Perlina

I had heard so many good things about the Stila Magnificent Metals and when I purchased a set of three minis to try I was left scratching my head as to what all the fuss is about. One shade I threw out as product was non existent but I did want to make an effort to use up the other two shades in the set; Perlina and Kitten Karma. I went to apply Perlina on top of another eyeshadow recently and discovered it had dried up which I was disappointed about. I will not be picking up any of these in future as overall I haven’t had a good experience. I don’t know whether it’s because these are minis and the full sized shades perform better but I’ve been put off.


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Empty Products #10

This is my fourth empties post in a year which is a record for me! I definitely have noticed that using what I have before buying more is working and I’m getting through products faster and have less clutter. I have actually enjoyed being on a low buy and lately I have only being buying products to replace what has been used up or when I’m close to finishing something.

Haircare

1. Schwarzkopf Extra Care Shampoo Supreme Length

I tried the matching conditioner first and was a fan so decided to pick up a bottle of the shampoo and I like it equally as much. The shampoo doesn’t feel drying or make my roots look greasy and only a small amount is required for each wash.

Repurchase: I see myself picking this up again.

2. Schwarzkopf Extra Care Conditioner Supreme Length

This is the second bottle I have finished and this is a great, inexpensive conditioner. My hair feels and looks smooth when I use this and the smell is really nice.

Repurchase: I see myself picking this up again.

Makeup

3. Max Factor Smooth Miracle Primer

I picked up this primer after hearing a fellow blogger rave about it and I’m not disappointed. If you prefer moisturising primers this may not be your favourite but it doesn’t feel greasy or like silicone. Foundation applies nicely over top of this, it doesn’t make product pill and gather and it definitely smooths skin. The product gets pumped from the bottom up so every last little bit gets used and you know exactly how much is left. The packaging is lightweight and travel friendly too.

Repurchase: Possibly in future.

4. Tanya Burr Selfie Lash Mascara

I was sent this mascara by the lovely Dannii and I was surprised by how much I like it! I’m quite fussy when it comes to mascara, I prefer natural bristle brushes, a super dark black shade and a formula that is on the drier side without being clumpy. From the get go the formula was really nice, it didn’t change much throughout the 7 month course of using it which is impressive. The formula didn’t dry out and become sticky either. The wand is made up of small, silicone bristles which help to build length and get in to every lash. This is such a lovely everyday mascara.

Repurchase: Yes, if the mascara hadn’t been discontinued!

Skincare & Fragrance

5. Juicy Couture – I ❤ Juicy Couture

Out of all the Juicy Couture perfumes I’ve tried this is one of the lightest in terms of fragrance and lasting power. This is really nice for work as it’s inoffensive. The fruit notes are the most prominent and whilst they are pleasant they aren’t what I typically go for in a perfume. In no way is this a bad perfume, if I was gifted another bottle I would happily use it!

Repurchase: Probably not. There are other perfumes I like more.

6. The Body Shop Strawberry Body Mist

Over the past month or so I have enjoyed not spritzing a body mist before applying perfume and I’ve got to say I’m enjoying letting the perfume do it’s thing and getting the full scent. Some days I’ll apply a rollerball perfume to my neck and spritz a different perfume to layer the two scents together but I don’t need to rely on body mists. Usually body mists aren’t strong or long lasting either.

Repurchase: Maybe.

7. Trilogy Very Gentle Restoring Oil

This oil has been such a saviour for my skin! I’m currently using a serum from Antipodes and I don’t like it anywhere near as much. The oil is extremely gentle, delicate and is fragrance free. The oil aims to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and I agree with those claims. It’s rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants for soft, smooth, comfortable skin.

Repurchase: I have.

8. The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask

I used this face mask twice a week and it lasted me a couple of years. It’s good if you want a quick 5-10 minute mask and don’t like the tight feeling of clay masks. The honey and oats mean this is nice and gentle on the skin but the texture of the oats cleans and scrubs skin at the same time. The smell of this is lovely, I don’t usually like honey. The mask was easy to apply and wash off and is suitable for normal to dry skin but I also think this would suit sensitive skin. The style of packaging means every last bit of products gets used too.

Repurchase: Not sure. This mask has been discontinued and I didn’t notice any visible differences each time I used it but it’s not a bad mask.

Body

9. The Body Shop Strawberry Softening Gel Lotion

The strawberry range is usually one of my favourites from The Body Shop but I’m glad this lotion was only the travel size. I didn’t enjoy the gel texture, it wasn’t very moisturising and whilst it did soak into the skin quickly the strawberry scent was sweeter than other products I’ve tried from the range. The scent wasn’t light and fresh, it was sickly and synthetic. Squeezing product out of this little bottle was also annoying.

Repurchase: No.

10. Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant – Clear

Still my anti-perspirant of choice. Maybe after my current one of these is finished I’ll branch out and try something else.

Repurchase: Yes.


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Empty Products #8

This is my third empties post since the start of November 2018! I am getting quicker at using things up and I definitely think my low buy is helping. I am more inspired to use what I’ve got before buying more and replacing products. I know which products I’m close to finishing and putting my focus on those rather than having different things open at once and using small amounts of each.

Haircare

1. OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo

I enjoyed the shampoo from this range a lot more than the conditioner. A small dollop of product was enough and from the time I started this shampoo until the time I finished it was around seven months. $13 seems expensive upfront but over time that works out to less than $2 per month. The product does have a pleasant scent. It didn’t leave my roots feeling oily or dried out, my hair felt soft and clean.

Repurchase: Maybe.

2. Schwarzkopf Extra Care Conditioner Supreme Length

After finishing my previous conditioner I was ready to try something new and this caught my eye. Not only is the bottle my favourite colour but the product is aimed at long hair prone to damage and oily roots. This smells really nice and actually worked well in conjunction with the OGX shampoo above.

Repurchase: I have.

3. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends

A fellow blogger inspired this purchase a few years ago and when I first got it I would make a conscious effort to use it but after a few months it fell by the wayside. It became a product I’d use on my hair to keep the ends looking sleek and straight after I’d blow dried it. I don’t use tools on my hair often which probably explains why it took me three years to finish this! I’ve been trying to get it gone these past few weeks and I finally did it!

Repurchase: No. It’s not a bad product but I didn’t enjoy using it.

Makeup

4. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer

I understand why so many people enjoy this primer, it’s very moisturising. A little goes a long way and the 20ml tube lasted me four months. The coconut scent isn’t offensive and even if you don’t like coconut scents like me I think you’ll still like this, the scent is barely there. I did find when I used my MAC Studio Finish Concealer it would pill if I used this primer. This primer did accentuate lines sometimes too.

Repurchase: The primer was fine if I used my Collection concealer but I am using a Max Factor primer currently which I prefer. I may pick this primer up again though.

5. Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara – 003 Extreme Black

Words cannot explain my love for this mascara! The big brush is surprisingly easy to work with, the wand has proper bristles rather than plastic ones and the formula and pigmentation is incredible. The formula is consistent throughout the lifetime of each tube, it doesn’t change drastically. It’s slightly wetter when first opened but not in smudgy, messy way. The wand gives length and volume. I’m sad the Extreme Black shade has been discontinued, the regular black shade is just not as good.

Repurchase: Yes, my holy grail mascara! I have one tube left as a back up and might try and hunt more down.

Skincare & Fragrance

6. MAC Studio Finish Moisture Cream

Don’t get me wrong this is a nice moisturiser and this is the second tube I have finished up but I think I’d try it as my day moisturiser if I pick it up again to see how it performs under makeup. I don’t find this works as good with the facial oil as the night moisturiser I am currently using – Clinique’s Moisture Surge – I like something slightly lighter in the evening so the oil absorbs better.

Repurchase: Maybe.

7. Trilogy Very Gentle Restoring Oil

This oil has been such a game changer for my skin! The lines I used to get around my nose and mouth have practically disappeared and my skin is much softer and nourished. Makeup applies better and this oil works well in conjunction with my day and night moisturisers. I don’t have excess oil or get many breakouts (I tend to notice hormonal/stress breakouts or get them from sweating and if I haven’t been eating well).

Repurchase: Already have.

8. Britney Spears Private Show Perfume

I got this perfume for Christmas in December 2016 and every time I wore it I got asked what it was or comments from people saying how nice I smelt. I loved it at the start and the lasting power is good but ever since the break up last year something in me switched and I stopped enjoying this as much as I had previously. This was my ex boyfriend’s favourite on me and I’m not petty enough to not like it anymore for that reason but the scent is a reminder and I’d rather not think of sadness every time I spray it.

Repurchase: Not sure, I’ll test this in store in the near future and see if I feel any different.

Body

9. Nivea Anti-Perspirant – Clear

This has featured in every empties post since 2015.

Repurchase: Until I find something as good, yes.

10. The Body Shop Shea Hand Cream

Shea is probably my favourite range at The Body Shop. The scent is appropriate year round and the sweet, nutty smell is lovely. I have tried a number of products from the range and haven’t been disappointed. This hand cream is one I’d recommend to everybody if you’re new to trying The Body Shop’s products and you’re looking for a good staple. It also makes a nice gift. This isn’t the first tube I’ve finished up.

Repurchase: Yes.


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March Favourites + Highlights

March has zoomed by, I swear each month gets faster! March has felt busy and I feel like I haven’t had much time to take it easy but I have been reading more in March which makes me happy. My mood has mostly been good and I’ve made some new purchases, namely fashion items. I also caught up with an old workmate and had such a good time.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Schwarzkopf Extra Care Hair Treatment Leave In – Whilst I am a proud redhead my hair is very heavy and thick. It doesn’t always look as sleek as I would like and I was in the market for a product to help with that. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money in case I didn’t notice any difference and the idea of this leave in treatment appealed to me. The product is suitable for all hair types and aims to be nourishing and add shine. It contains liquid keratin to repair damage and straighten hair. It is advised to apply this when hair is 90% dry and comb/brush it through. I have been using this for the past month or so now and I like how smooth and sleek my hair feels. The smell is pleasant too.

2. MAC – Velvet Teddy – I purchased this mini lipstick at the end of 2018 before my lipstick ban kicked in after seeing Cleia talk about it. The first time I used it I didn’t love it but the more I have been using it the more I like it. This is incredibly comfortable for a matte and doesn’t feel drying whatsoever. (Not sure whether that’s all of MAC’s matte shades or just this one!) I love applying a light layer of gloss over top to make the shade more pink but it is pretty on it’s own as well. I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else with MAC’s mini lipsticks but the bullet has lines in it like it is moving and pushing up against the tube when I apply it. I’m guessing that’s because of the smaller size but I hope the lipstick doesn’t snap!

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick #55 My Nude – In February a parcel from an extremely close blogging friend arrived and this lipstick was one of the items inside. Funnily enough this shade is a little similar to Velvet Teddy and I love this one too! Rimmel lipsticks are some of my favourites, they’re affordable without compromising on quality or pigmentation. This lipstick is one of six shades released as part of a 15th anniversary celebration with Kate Moss. The collection features three of Kate’s favourite nude shades and three of her favourite reds. #53 Retro Red is my favourite of the reds and I’d love to pick it up at some point after my lipstick ban is over.

4. Married At First Sight Australia – I don’t watch a huge amount of trash/reality TV but this show has got me hooked! It is literally what it sounds like, a couple meet for the first time and they get married – they don’t know anything about the other person and have been matched by a team of ‘experts.’ The couples are eight weeks into the experiment now, they’ve been on their honeymoon, they’re living in an apartment together and they’ve done home visits. At the end of each week there is a commitment ceremony and each person has to choose to stay in the experiment for another week or they can write leave. If both people write leave they leave the experiment and end their marriage. If only one person writes leave the couple stay for another week. This show has cat-fights, drama, shit stirrers and isn’t always believable but it’s addictive!

March Highlights

  • I placed my first Colourpop order! I bought a few eye products and a haul post will be up at some point – I want to use everything and form opinions first.
  • I found a pair of wide leg black trousers that look nice on me and aren’t too long.
  • I caught up with an old work colleague and good friend. We ate, went shoe shopping and generally had a blast!
  • Speaking of shoe shopping, I bought the cutest pair of toffee coloured boots. Normally I always buy black shoes (because they go with everything) but these are pretty and still neutral enough to work with a bunch of outfits.

March’s Spotify Playlist:


How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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