Empty Products #11

My fifth empties post in a year! I am proud of how dedicated I have been to using products up and the speed with which I’m getting through things. There’s a lot of great products in this post and 80% of them I would be happy to purchase again. Let’s get started!

Haircare

1. TRESemmé Heat Tamer Protective Spray

I have had this heat protector for a few years as I rarely use styling tools on my hair. The scent is pleasant, it’s like a fruity version of The Body Shop’s Vitamin E scent with less rosy notes – there is no hair spray, chemical type smell. The spray makes hair soft and look shiny without looking oily and it is good value for money. It costs $7 (NZD) for 300ml. If you do use styling tools regularly and had to purchase this a few times a year it’s still good value.

Repurchase: Yes.

Makeup

2. L’Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara

Paradise Extatic is the European/New Zealand version of L’Oreal’s Lash Paradise mascara. My initial thoughts are I don’t like Paradise Extatic as much as I liked Lash Paradise. I found Paradise Extatic dried out quicker and the formula got clumpy and thick after not being open for very long at all. Paradise Extatic didn’t build and layer as well as I remember Lash Paradise doing and my lashes didn’t look long and fluttery. The performance of this particular tube of mascara was average. I’ve seen people compare Lash Paradise and Paradise Extatic and this has come out on top but for me it’s the other way round. The only way this is superior to Lash Paradise is that the colour on the outside of the tube doesn’t flake and peel off.

Repurchase: Yes but Lash Paradise in the pink tube.

3. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair

I have talked about this concealer numerous times over the years on my blog so I’ll keep this short. It is my favourite creamy concealer and as far as value for money, shade match, coverage and pigmentation goes it wins hands down!

Repurchase: I already have.

4. MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NW13 (Sample)

I recently reviewed this foundation *HERE* and I’m including this little sample as an empty because it gave me 27 uses which is a lot more than the week’s worth of product the poster stated. The colour match could not be more perfect for my skin and this foundation blended like a dream, it is the nicest looking foundation I have tried to date. Cheek products sit nicely on top, the formula is comfortable – the right amount of dew and matte – and product didn’t break down on my face throughout the day.

Repurchase: I am considering buying a full size of this foundation once I finish up a few others in my collection.

5. MAC Syrup

I am sad I have finished this lipstick but also proud. Syrup was my first ever MAC lipstick and my first ever MAC purchase so it holds a special place in my heart. Syrup is the most beautiful pink-purple mauve berry and such a hard colour to dupe. It has a lustre finish meaning it’s incredibly comfortable to wear and has a nice natural shine.

Repurchase: Definitely – one of the best lipstick colours I have ever owned!

6. MAC Patisserie

I actually thought I would finish Patisserie before Syrup but as it happened I used both of these up within a week of each other. Patisserie is also a lustre finish and is the perfect peachy-pink nude. When it comes to nude lipsticks pink undertones suit me best.

Repurchase: I’m sure I will at some point.

Skincare & Fragrance

7. Antipodes Hosanna H20 Skin Plumping Serum

I received a deluxe sample of this serum as a gift with purchase but I didn’t enjoy it. The serum has a strong medicinal scent and I didn’t notice any benefits to my skin when I used this. It didn’t irritate my skin or dry it out further but I didn’t see any plumping effects either. The serum seemed to soak into my skin awfully quickly and it felt like I hadn’t applied any product.

Repurchase: No.

8. The Body Shop Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist

Aside from Fix+ by MAC this is the face mist I have enjoyed using the most to set my makeup. The strawberry scent is lovely and fruity and the spray feels light and refreshing on the skin. This mist gives my skin a smooth, dewy look.

Repurchase: Most likely.

9. Britney Spears – Prerogative 30ml

Prerogative is probably my favourite fragrance from Britney Spears so far. It has notes of amber, pink pepper, apricot, lily, espresso foam and a velvety, gourmand twist. The scent is quite light and not the most long lasting but it’s a good everyday perfume for work. My only slight gripe is the bottle. The packaging is simple and sexy but as the bottle sits on an angle I worry perfume could leak out.

Repurchase: Maybe.

Body

10. Victoria’s Secret Ruby Guava Hand Cream

A work colleague gave this to me and the packaging is super cute! I didn’t know Victoria’s Secret made hand cream. The scent is fruity and a little stronger than what I usually like. This also didn’t feel as moisturising as other hand creams I’ve used in the past.

Repurchase: No.

11. The Body Shop Shea Body Butter 200ml

Shea is my favourite scent from The Body Shop and this is actually the first 200ml tub of this scent I have finished up. I’ve used a couple of smaller 50ml tubs in the past but this is softer and creamier despite being the same scent. I never tire of this scent and it’s perfect for any time of year.

Repurchase: Yes!

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Empty Products #9

It’s funny to think as I sit and type this up I’m already halfway towards finishing products for the next empties installment. I’ll keep the intro short because I do give mini reviews of all the products mentioned and this post is a wordy one!

Makeup

1. H&M Precision Makeup Sponge

I won this sponge in a blog giveaway a couple of years ago and I finally decided it was time to let it go. The sponge is in no way bad but I haven’t used it to apply foundation in a long time. The sponge is lovely and soft and bounces across the face easily. The sponge washes up well and is nice but I don’t use it anymore.

Repurchase: No. Not because the sponge isn’t good but I prefer brushes to apply foundation.

2. Johnson’s Baby Shampoo

Technically this would class as a haircare empty but because I use this to wash my makeup brushes I have included it in the makeup category instead. The shampoo cleans brushes so well and this product lasted for countless washes. As this is a baby shampoo it keeps the bristles super soft too.

Repurchase: I have.

Skincare & Fragrance

3. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Funnily enough I won this cleansing balm in the same giveaway as the H&M sponge! Over the past year I have regularly incorporated this balm into my evening routine and I love it. The balm is creamy and effective at removing makeup and doesn’t leave a greasy film on the skin or break me out. The balm is unscented and suitable for all skin types.

Repurchase: I have!

4. Natio Clay & Plant Face Mask Purifier

I have used this product for a number of years and I still enjoy it and find it works well for me. The squeeze tube makes application easy and the texture of the mask is not too thick. Using this mask 1-2 times a week is more than enough and after rinsing the mask off skin feels soft and clean but not stripped or dry. The scent is barely there and this would suit a range of skin types. I have dry-sensitive skin and this isn’t harsh in the slightest.

Repurchase: Yes. I’ve finished up two tubes previously and it’s a lovely mask. I’m using another mask from a different brand at the moment.

5. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive

I tried this moisturiser on a whim after using my beloved Simple Rich Replenishing moisturiser for the longest time and this is certainly comparable in terms of price and what it does for my skin. Possibly this is slightly more hydrating than the Simple moisturiser and makeup applies over top like a dream. This has an SPF of 15 and doesn’t have a sunscreen smell.

Repurchase: Yes, this is a nice day moisturiser for my skin.

6. Clinique Moisture Surge

I purchased a 30ml tube of this moisturiser as part of a set with a lipgloss around Christmas time. I had heard a lot of people talk about how good this moisturiser is and how it is one of their favourites and I wanted to see what the fuss is about. Whilst I didn’t hate this moisturiser it will not be making it’s way to holy grail status. I think for combination or oily skin types the gel-like texture would be more suitable. I like something that properly sinks in and feels hydrating. I’m glad to have tried the product but for the price I don’t see myself picking this up again.

Repurchase: Probably not. My skin didn’t feel nourished and product didn’t soak into my skin as much as I would have liked.

7. Simple Radiance Brightening Moisturiser

I discovered this moisturiser a couple of years ago and I love the fact it comes in a compact 50ml tube. This moisturiser would be even better if it either a) came in full size or b) was as readily available as other Simple products in New Zealand. The moisturiser is light and creamy and feels lovely on the skin. Makeup also applies like a dream over top of this one and the brightening effect the mango extract gives the skin is subtle but beautiful.

Repurchase: Yes but sadly this isn’t easy to come across.

Body

8. The Body Shop Early Harvest Raspberry Body Butter

One of my favourite bloggers, Rachael from Helpless Whilst Drying, loves this scent and when I saw it I wanted to try it. This body butter gets big brownie points from me for being a beautiful baby pink and having the texture I know and love; soft, malleable and moisturising. The scent is nice for spring/summer which is when I used this. I try and match scents to seasons e.g. fruits and florals for spring/summer and musky, heady scents for autumn/winter.

Repurchase: Maybe. This isn’t a permanent scent and there are other scents I would choose first.

9. Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace Body Lotion

This body lotion combines two of my favourite scents, vanilla and musk. Both of them work well with my body chemistry and they match my girly/sweet personality. The scent of this lotion is similar to the Vanilla Chai scent The Body Shop released a few Christmases ago but less spicy and more musky. The lotion soaked into the skin quickly which is what I like when I’m getting dressed and the texture was nice and easy to spread.

Repurchase: Yes but I think this has been discontinued.

10. Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant – Clear

Features in every empties. Love the scent, keeps me feeling fresh and does what it says on the label, keeps white clothes white and black clothes black.

Repurchase: Of course.

11. The Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey Shower Cream

I am unable to use shower gels and body washes due to my skin being extremely sensitive to SLS which is a common ingredient used in soap. Soap for washing my hands is fine but if I use anything like that on my legs the skin dries out and gets itchy and leads to eczema. I picked up this 60ml sample of Almond Milk & Honey shower cream as it doesn’t contain SLS and I was curious to see whether my skin would still react. I can confirm my skin was fine but I didn’t use this over consecutive showers, I used it once or twice a week to ensure my skin didn’t dry out. The product felt nice and creamy and made my skin soft but I didn’t enjoy this scent as a shower cream, I’ve used the hand cream from this range in the past and liked it better. Whilst this didn’t irritate my skin I wouldn’t pick up the full size. It is nice to know that other shower creams without SLS could work for me though.

Repurchase: No.

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February Favourites + Highlights

February has been a bit of a whirlwind, there’s been a few different things happening and a few different emotions to contend with. I haven’t read as much as I would have liked, I picked up a couple of books that I couldn’t get into and it slowed down the good progress I was making towards my yearly goal on Goodreads. I should be able to catch back up again though. I have started exercising on the exercycle again and my current goal is to ride 10km three times a week.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Melanie Brown – Brutally Honest – I was a little a young to remember the Spice Girls in their hey day but I started listening to them in 2007 when they reunited. I have always liked Mel B’s deep Leeds accent and fierce personality. I’d read her first book Catch a Fire a number of years ago and over the past few years I have heard stories about her second husband and their marriage in the media. Until I read this book I didn’t know the full extent of what went on and the amount of adoration I have for what she put up with went up tenfold. The title is clever, not only is Melanie blunt and honest but it also reflects how much she had to endure to come out the other side. This was a gripping read and there was a lot going on that people didn’t realise.

(The book doesn’t appear in the main image as I borrowed it from work).

2. Tanya Burr Selfie Lash Mascara – This mascara was sent to me by Dannii and I really like it! I’m not usually a fan of rubber wands and prefer natural bristles but this one isn’t flimsy and the bristles really get into all the lashes. One coat of this is perfect for an everyday look but two coats is what I like to go for. This mascara reapplies nicely as well and doesn’t make existing coats that have been applied earlier in the day look clumpy. The formula is not smudgy and wet which I like and it’ll be interesting to see if the formula stays like this or if it changes. The shiny gold packing is pretty too.

3. MAC Viva Glam II – Some days you can’t beat a beautiful nude lipstick. Viva Glam II has a satin finish and is described as a pinky mauve colour which is accurate. Pink nudes suit me better than brown and this particular shade is like a cross between a few other MAC shades in my collection; it’s like Blankety, Hug Me and Brave rolled into one. If you like any of those I’m sure you’ll like this! As this is part of the Viva Glam range, money from these lipsticks goes to the Aids Fund. Viva Glam shades also have a distinguishable red band around the middle of the casing so you can tell them apart.

4. Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace Body Lotion – Body lotion is one of my favourite products to apply on a daily basis. I usually buy lotions from The Body Shop as I find their scents last all day and don’t irritate my skin. I do however prefer body lotions that come in a squeeze tube like this or in a bottle with a flip top lid. I have used lotions from The Body Shop in the past that have a pump but some of the product tends to get wasted. I hadn’t tried Victoria’s Secret body lotion before, this scent is a mix of vanilla and musk and it smells really lovely on my skin. It is similar to the Vanilla Chai scent The Body Shop released a few years ago which I also loved. I would like to try more lotions from Victoria’s Secret in future so if you have any suggestions, let me know!

February Highlights

• I purchased a baker boy cap. I tried one on in a shop as a joke but I really like how it looked. Can’t wait to wear it properly!
• My signed copy of Claire Richard’s album ‘My Wildest Dreams’ arrived.
• On Valentine’s Day I picked up a parcel Nadine sent me. Everything is so sweet!
• One of the girls I work with brought me back a gift from her travels.
• I had a really lovely dinner date during the last weekend in February.

 

February’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share something you have been loving or one of your highlights in the comments!

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