Empties

 Hello,

this is my first part of my September empties. I had to split them up otherwise it would be just too long and there would be too many products.

I cleared up a bottle of Iunik calendula complete cleansing oil with a convenient pump. This oil was nice, sometimes I only had issues with mascara but it did remove everything else. It did not irritate my eyes and that is a big plus. I found new bottle at an amazing price with the other one for free so now I have two backups :)

I found this Caudalie beauty elixir toner at an amazing price It is supposed to smooth your skin and make it more glowy. First that I noticed are two layers and I had to shake it really well to mix both liquids and the minty scent. Very nice and awakening in the morning but I haven't noticed any major difference. It was nice and fancy to use, the mist was super fine (unfortunately the bottle is not refillable otherwise I would reuse it). If I will find it at a reasonable price I might get it again but it is nothing too special for me.

A while ago I had issues with my skin barrier and dry patches on my face so I decided to go with this Purito dermide cica barrier sleeping pack. It is a thicker cream which I would apply on its own or layer it on top to create nourishing sandwich. If there was a dry patch I would apply some more to it and by the morning my skin was better. I would get it again.

This NYX the face glue was a gift with purchase and it turned out to be a really nice fixing spray. On the bottom there is a white mattifying powder and to work properly I had to shake it well before using it and it kept my make-up put for longer than no fixing spray. This is close to my favorite Catrice one and this one doesn't make me feel like I used hair spray. I will get it again.

Big tube is Avon care Watermelon daily hydration body lotion gel. It had a light cream scent and with some imagination I could see the watermelon in the background. Not super strong in the scent department but I ended really liking that. The nourishing properties were there and I used it with joy.

Last is also Avon care overnight moisture hand cream with lavender. It had a nice texture not too light and not too greasy but it was on a slightly heavier side, lavender scent was pleasant and calming. I really liked it but it took me a while to go through it since I only needed a little when I used it.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

in the second half of March I have used up some more products. Most of them very really nice and I will get them again.

First was a gift with purchase and probably the only one I didn't car for it much. It is Avene xeracalm body moisturiser, it had a very liquid texture and no evident scent. I had very dry skin on my back and it did help a bit but it was nothing spectacular.

Next is body wash from Avon. It is their Care line with Avocado. I have used this before and I still like it. The scent reminds me slightly of the Good Girl perfume, just lighter and with some cream added. The product itself is creamy and not too liquid, this big bottle lasts for a log time. 

I am staying in the shower for a little bit longer. Next are L'oreal elseve bond repair shampoo and pre-shampoo solution. I actually loved them both and I think my hair were smoother and less frizzy, specially the ends looked better. I would first use the shampoo and then use the pre-shampoo (I know, there is literally in the name specified how to use it but I prefer to use it afterwards). I just made sure I left it on for as long as possible (in the mean time I would shave and I would take my time).

Second to last is Afrodita Great burdock hair oil. I have already raved about this product and I still love it. It is greasy oil which I use on my hair and brows to help them grow faster. After just a few days I can notice a spur of growth and I keep coming back to it. I am already using a new bottle.

Last is green tube of Caudalie vinopure purifying gel cleanser. This was very liquid and it stare+ted pouring from the tube the second I would unscrew the cap. This was used up very fast because about half of it just drained. This is the second item I would not repurchase.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

this is my round of empties from the first half of February.

Avon planet SPA Heavenly Hydration hot hair oil. The instructions says to put it in a hot water so I always prepare a warm bath for it in my cup :) it smells really nice (the entire Mediterranean collection smells good) and my hair are nourished and silky after soaking and washing this oil off. This was my second one but now I can't find it anymore, I hope the bring it back.

Big bottle is Afrodita Nettle shampoo for greasy hair. I love their shampoos because they are inexpensive and they work for me. At least the cleansing ones that I have tried are nice only if paired with something nourishing afterwards. I probably already have a backup ready for days when my hair need deep cleansing.

Since my hair got really dry and damaged at the begining of the year I tried the Aussie sos line of their shampoo and deep repair conditioner with Australian blend of superfruits for really damaged hair. The scent is gorgeous (same in both products). I feel like conditioner really made a difference in my dry hair and made them a bit more manageable. I will get the conditioner again and probably I will get the 'matching' shampoo as well even thought it was just okay (I like matchy items in my shower).

My skin responds well to tea tree infused face products and face wash seems like a good product to keep my face acne free. I started to use the Saem healing tea garden cleansing balm with tea tree. I really like it and would get it again. It was nice to use it approximately every second day in the shower to keep my skin blemish free.

I have used up another face wash which is The Body Shop Vitamin E gentle facial wash. I love their gel/souflle face moisturiser and I wanted to try out the face wash as well. It wash creamy, like a face moisturiser and it felt a bit odd. If I applied a heavy cream before or oil to remove make-up it didn't perform well, it was too gentle. At the end I used it as a morning face wash and managed to use it up. I won't be getting it again since I prefer stronger ones.

Green tube is Caudalie skin perfecting mattifying fluid. It was quite gel like but it was still a bit oily on my skin so it didn't replace my typical morning/daily face moisturiser. I used it in the evening but if my skin felt still a bit dry I would apply heavier cream or oil over it. I will not be getting it again.

Familiar orange tube is another Neutrogena oil free moisturiser. This is my holy grail daily face cream. It absorbs quickly and my skin is hydrated under my make up. I have been using it for years and I am already using new tube. 

Lastly I have two Pure Paw Paw ointments with Grape scent. I purchased them in a set and they are the same just different sized packaging. Smaller 15g tube has slanted opening (shown above) so it is convenient to use on the lips while the larger one 25g just has a hole. They have sweet grape scent which lasted for about 30 seconds and then it was gone. Texture was just like vaseline and I am not a fan. I was using them regularly just to finish them up. I did not like the heavy feeling but at the same time this product disappeared quickly from my lips, other areas would stay greassy till morning but it was gone from my lips... I did not lick them since the vaseline texture (super greasy) is not my favorite. 

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

I have a new empties post. I am preparing for a new year and I would like to use up as many products as possible so next year I will start fresh, do any of you have the same felling? When you just want to get out of the way as many products before the change of year?

First is Le Petit Marseiliais body lotion with cotton and almond note in this beautiful bright red bottle. It reminds me of Poppies and my mom|s old favorite fragrance Kenzo Flower (anyone else?). It was really nice but I prefer the one in the pink/lavender bottle that I have finished earlier this year.

Next is a *miracle* product from REN and it is their flash rinse 1 minute facial. Basically it is a scrub that you apply on a clean and dry face (it has to be dry), it has little scrubby parts that do not feel too much and when it starts balling up I rinse my fingers with lukewarm water and go over my face again. Water turns it into an almost oily product and the scrubby particles dissolves. If my skin is sensitive (acne) it will burn a little (it claims to have water activated vitamin C in it, that is why it is so important that in the first step there is no water involved). My skin will not turn red, even when it feels extra sensitive and the next day my acne are reduced or smaller ones are gone, the texture is improved and the skin after using it a couple of times looks more even. This is gorgeous so I did not hesitate and purchased another tube even though it is expensive.

Next is my beloved Avon advance technique silky hair serum. This is my second used up bottle and third one is already in rotation. I love this oil in my hair not only because it smells nice but also because it makes them look less dry, basically silkier (as the name suggests). My preferred method is to use it on damp hair and in the morning when I wake up they are exceptionally smoother and silkier.

Caudalie vinosource overnight recovery oil was my last years black Friday deal. I also got the one in the green bottle and honestly I did not saw much improvement in my skin but this one in the red bottle (also cheaper) suited me better. It contains Grape seed, Jojoba, Sesame, pure Rose, Sunflower and Palmarose oils mixed together. Using it on a regular base I noticed that my skin looked more even (less red which I can thank Rose oil). I was using it with different serums and my skin improved a lot since last year but I think it was a combination of products. This one was nicer than the one in the green bottle but still it is a bit pricey for what it is. I already bought Jojoba (nourishing) and Rose (redness reducing) oils and just mix them myself since I notice the biggest difference while using these two oils.

These two are the last heroes from this amazing Essence line called prettifying lip oils first one is red SOS, my heart and the other one is actually pink named First, help Pinky (they were hard to tell apart even when they were full). I think I talked and raved about them quite a lot so I will try to be quick. They smell and taste lovely, a bit fruity, they are super glossy and nourishing. When my lips were cracked I applied this miracle oil a couple of times and it healed them within one hour. I think this is pretty good because I have plenty of lip balms and hardly any get that close at fixing my chapped skin. The only downfall with these is that they are pretty thin and disappear too fast. If Essence will ever bring them back I am buying more of them.

Next is also my very last of the Avon SuperShock gel eye pencil in Golden Fawn (both me and my sister owned three of each). This was a limited edition shade and what a pity. The gel in the name suggest that is very creamy and it is but it also dries and does not move around (amazing formula, they still have them but in more modest shades). This one was more of a taupe than gold and had that multi dimensional feel where it looked like you used more than one shade because it looked more complicated and the shimmer made it look sparkly and glowy. Such a good shade that could transform and elevate any look. I would get it again in a heart beat if I could.

Next is another discontinued item and even though  love it I will not be crying my eyes out because I have similar shades already in my collection. It is Catrice Ooops, nude did it again eye shadow, It is a bit hard to spot because it is so close to my skin tone but what is fantastic about it is the sateen finish and I mostly used it as a highlighter on my cheeks. It looked soooo good but I have another shade from Essence that is almost the same and plenty of highlighters to go through, sooo... I am glad that I was able to use up another item and I can not wait to start seeing dips in some of my other shadows.

The very last swatch belongs to Maybelline 24h color tattoo from creamy mattes in the shade Creamy Beige. I absolutely love it. I usually use much less and blend it out so I only get a light shadow on the eye plus this one does not budge. It has some build in primer that even my greasy lids could not get through. I would repurchase it again but I have another brown cream shadow that needs to be used (I was neglecting it because I was focusing so much on this Creamy Beige shade).


I did a little damage on the biggest, blackest Friday. I bought backups of REN mask seen above, backups of my favorite face powder and concealer, daily face moisturizer, new blush and I have also ordered two new fragrances and I can not wait for them to arrive. Nothing too crazy like I did last year.


Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

it is time for the empties.
I think I'm doing pretty well. I'm not buying cosmetics and I'm just using what I already own and I went through quite a lot of products this month, in particularly in the second half of the month.

First is Avon Advance Technique heat protecting hair spray. Don't ask me if it works because I didn't notice the difference, it seems like a good idea to use it every time I blow dry my hair after a wash which is every third day. At the moment I don't have the alternative but I will think if this is something my hair needs, I guess I will see if my hair will get drastically drier and more damaged in the following weeks.

Next bottle is Krasna massage body oil with lavender. I used it as a body moisturizer after a shower and at the end I kept it at my sink. Every time I would wash my hands and before patting them dry I put a bit of this oil on my hands, massage it a bit and rinse the excess, that way I used it a bit faster and also protected my sensitive hands. I love doing that and at the moment I have a lot of oils to go through but lavender oil is definitely on my list. I will try to find cheaper versions of it the next time or at least get it on sale.

In the little red pot on top is Avon anew reversalist eye cream. I guess it was okay. The cream was lightweight so nice under my make-up but I got the feeling like it didn't do much. I just want it to be a bit more nourishing but at least it wasn't too greasy. This is a dual product since there is a highlighter 'hidden' in the cap. It was really hard to capture on the photo but it looks like a white cream but when you spread it on the skin it has pink/peach radiance to it. It actually looked really nice and you are supposed to put it under the eyes, unfortunately my eyes started to water and so I couldn't use it.

Big green pot is this lotion that my sister brought back from a vacation and I only guess that is the name: Tabaibaloe aloe face and body cream. It was lightweight but since I always associate aloe with clear gel I was surprised that it was slightly green looking lotion. The scent was very gummy bear -like and at first I liked it but after sometime (this pot is huge) I got over it and I'm super happy that I have finished it.

The very last item on the photo is the biggest disappointment. I got a little sample of this oil and when I tried it for the first time I could really feel the difference in my skin. The next morning my skin was softer and smoother so I was waiting for the perfect sale to get this expensive oil (almost a year later I have actually bought it). Caudalie Vine(active) overnight detox oil promised a lot but it didn't deliver it for me. I don't know if I got the old one or the sample gave me the placebo effect... I will never know but what I do know is that when I used the oil from this bottle my skin in the morning didn't look different. In fact if I used it consistently in the cold winter my skin got dry, I'm not saying that it dryed it out but I'm implying that it is not moisturizing enough so I had to use some other oils. Also the softness of my skin didn't improve. All in all I think this was a waste of my money but in the future you will see another face oil from Caudalie because I was foolish enough to buy two (the other one is from the 'red' line).

I only took a photo of the front  of this mascara but trust me it is the Avon superextend lengthening mascara in waterproof black. I don't remember why I got it in the waterproof version but this is one of my favorite mascaras and I already forgot how many tubes of this lash magnifier I went through. It has a plastic/rubber wand with tons of little spikes that comb and individualize the lashes, it also contains little fibers that adds to the length (it looks very natural only when the formula starts to dry out, after a couple of months these fibers starts to fall off the lashes, it is very minimal but a clear sight to replace the mascara). With a quick comb through it can look very natural but if you build it up it can look very dramatic and I like that.

Next is one of my favorite lipstick formulas: Catrice ultimate shine gel color in Red or Bad. Too bad that they don't make these anymore (Power plumping gel lipsticks looks like a revamped versions, really interesting and I already have my eye on two of the sades). This one was red but quite sheer and glossy, it did leave the stain so it was buildable and I could make it really bold if I wanted to but on most days I just wore it casually like a tinted lip balm. I still have two more shades to go through but when they will be gone I'm trying the new plumping ones...

The very last item is another discontinued one but with this one I don't mind it since it wasn't my favorite. Essence color correcting mattifying powder had different pastel tones in it but essentially was just white/translucent. It set my make up nicely when my skin was on the drier side but I had a feeling that if I would use it in the hot Summer it couldn't do much for my oily face so I'm super happy that I finished it up.


That is all for this month, I had a nice array of lovely and some not so good products but the most important part is that I'm sticking with my low buy and discover hidden gems that are already in my posession.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day