Empties

 Hello,

I'm fresh from my Summer vacation and I feel super rejuvenated. I could finish up more than just two bottles of sun lotion but I was rotating among different tubes and that was all I could finish.

DM brand called Sun Dance makes affordable sun lotions and by my experiences very nice ones (they do protect my skin from UVB light because I don't burn ;). First is light sun lotion with SPF 20 with Coconut scent (very nice and tropical if I my add and it doesn't turn plastick-y). It is a mineral protection with Titanium Dioxide and because it is in nano particles it is not sticky or white. I actually really like it and because the protection is a bit lower as what I normally go for I layer it with something else and in this case I used another Sun Dance item. Sensitive sun lotion with calming Panthenol and with SPF 30. It contains the same mineral filter in nano particles but this one is a bit thicker and greasier for the first few minutes but after it sinks in I can't feel it at all. These two were with me last year already and I also came back from my vacation burn free and with a hint of tan. I will repurchase them again but I'm afraid that they revamped their range and have completely different range of products now...

Online I purchase this Jojoba oil from Dr. Feelgood brand that honesty I haven't herd of before. I really liked the packaging but the oil didn't feel quite right. I'm used to thicker oils and this one was extra thin. The good part was that it absorbed really fast and I used it as a moisturizer but I purchase it as an oil to remove my make-up and for that thicker texture is preferred. With this one I'm really on the fence because it isn't a bad product just not quite what I expected... and I'm not sure if I would repurchase it again.

Last two items are two face powders. First is Essence all about matt waterproof fixing powder which was available only in one white shade. This did gave me a bit of a white cast so I had to be careful when applying to prevent me from looking like Casper the ghost. I believe because the formula is waterproof it was extra drying so sometimes when applied over fresh, slightly sticky make-up it looked a bit cakey but the longer I had it on, the better it looked. Obviously, the illusion didn't last all day long (I have extremely oily skin) so after around four or five hours my natural oils would come through and I needed to touch up but it was better to use a different powder on top because this one looked too cakey. I'm glad that it is gone and I wouldn't repurchase it again even if it would still be available (I believe it is long discontinued).

The second is one of my favorite ones and it is Rimmel London Stay Matte in the shade Transparent. This one looks good applied over fresh make-up or reapplied through the day. The shade is great (but I also think that it doesn't have that much of coverage) and it is super inexpensive. I just ordered two more so I guess I can say that I love it :)

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

I'm a little off schedule with my empties but for that I can 'blame' my vacation. I came back yesterday and it was amazing. I spent a lot of time on the sun with tons of sun cream on so I didn't got burn, next year I'm buying Sun Dance lotions again but maybe not the same ones.

I used up two Sun Dance SPF lotions. The first is the Melon scented foam (last year I bought two of them and used up the Strawberry one in the same Summer). I liked this fresher scent better but otherwise the foam that comes out is sticky (not great for an everyday life but on the beach I don't mind greasy feeling). It was waterproof so especially great for swimming but I used it up pretty fast.
Then I started to use another SPF 30 lotion with coconut scent also a bit greasy, not so much, but this one was a thicker white cream. None of these two was my favorite, one too sticky the other was too white but my skin stayed protected and that is all that matters. Sun Dance has a large collection of sun lotions and every year they come out with some new ones so I'm sure I will find something suited for my needs next year.

To retain moisture I used this Avon naturals Apricot and Shea lotion (not the most moisturizing in the world) but the light texture and pleasant scent convinced me. I think this is my third bottle of this particular one and now it is no longer available so it is also the last one.

Dove makes great deodorants/antiperspirants for me and this one was another winner. I really like the roll-ons even though you have to wait a little longer to dry before putting clothes on. The scent on this Mineral Touch was fresh and clean, just how I want to feel and smell after a long day on the sun.

The very last one is also an oldie. It is Avon Be Serene... perfume. I remember there were three different ones in this Be... collection but I only got the 'blue' one. It smelled very fresh and a bit flowery, nothing too much, think of a fabric softener, something like that. Their original Perceive smells very similar.

L'oreal infallible 24-h matte Vanilla foundation is already repurchased. I love this high coverage, buildable and matte foundation. It is my go-to and I'm already using the new tube. My only complain would be the dark shade but to fix that I buy The Body Shop lightening drops and I adjust the shade every morning to match me perfectly.

Catrice made under TE Active Warrior this wonderful make-up freezing spray. I received one bottle as PR but I went and bought two more bottles. This one is the first one to go but I have backups to last me through this year.

Another Catrice item sent to me was this lashes to kill waterproof mascara. I already raved about it and I still love it. The brush isn't rubbery and that worried me a little at first but after I tried it it was great. It was lenghtening and volumizing, the only thing that was lacking was the curl hold other than that it was really nice and I think I will repurchase it for my sister's wedding which is just around the corner.

This is another repurchase and probably by now everyone has already discovered how great are Catrice concealers. This liquid camouflage Porcellain concealer is especially great for under eye area because it isn't so drying. I love this one around my eyes and the pot version for all over my face. While the cream one lasts very long this liquid one gets used up relatively fast, thank God it is inexpensive ;)

The very last Catrice products is Pure Brilliants Next Stop Golden Gate Bridge colour lip balm I loved the Pure Shine balms but when they were discontinuing them I couldn't find any in desired shade so I picked up this one thinking it would be similar just with shimmer. I was right the formula was similar, nourishing and glossy but the balm is packed with shimmer so I had to be careful not to end up looking like a clown, the orange tint didn't help ether. I would get the Pure Shines one in a heartbeat but the Pure Brilliants left me cold.

We are almost at the finish line with this second Essence invisible kiss transparent lip liner in Multitalent Wonder shade. It is essentially just a clear waxy liner which 'seals' the lips especially if they are dry or chapped. It runs smoothly over lines and makes lips smooth so when I would go over with a tinted lip product no one could tell that my lips weren't in their best condition. I have another backup but I already bought one from Avon which I haven't put it to the test jet.

Essence Pure Nude powder in Nude Beige was so so for me. Nothing too impressive so when I found better ones I started to use this one on my neck (I drag my foundation or BB cream down my neck and chest area, it depends from my shirt cut and because I wear my hair down I have to powder my neck as well otherwise my hair would get stuck). For that I always use powders that aren't my favorite and just use them up, that happened to this one and I'm happy to see it gone.

The Terra Naturi Ivory face powder was on the other hand a very good one. Too bad that it is gone. They repackaged the whole line and while they still have face powders they have different packaging and I don't know if they are the same. I will probably try one in the future but at the moment I think I have four or five quite full face powders that needs to be used up before I get some more.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

we are already in the second part of August and Summer is almost over. I am excited for Autumn but I hate Winter, cold and snow just aren't my thing so clinging on Summer inspired product is a recurring thing for me.

First we have Essence keep it perfect fixing spray. I already talked about it in July and I still agree that it works for me. It doesn't keep my skin matte but it prevents my make-up from separating in this hot weather. There is a tiny bit left in the bottle but I can't get it out so I when I will repurchase it I will just pour what is left in the new bottle. I mentioned that I would like to try the matte version but I couldn't find it so I will repurchase this one.

Next we have a Sun Dance SPF 30 sun cream or should I say foam.

I bought both versions, the one above that is empty smells like sweet strawberries and the other one that still has some product left is melon scented. They both have rather strong fragrances but they don't smell plasticky or too fake.

Before every use you shake it and press the top button and this dense foam comes out (can you see a cat on the above photo?), it spreads very easy but it does leave a sticky feeling behind. I don't mind it when I'm on the beach because I get sweaty anyways but I don't like to use it in my everyday life. I find this product interesting, it is something new but I won't be repurchasing it again. The melon scented one I will use next year on a vacation and that will be it.

This Avon Calming Effects redness corrector green primer is super old. I actually haven't use it in years, it was just sitting there and taking space. I finally picked it up and toss it away. I don't think it was available for long, maybe that is because it is nothing special? I remember it being pretty green and sticky. After applying it all over my face it didn't feel good, I was convinced that my make-up won't be able to cover the color up correctly and the stickiness bothered me too much. This one was definitely a failed purchase for me.

Another Avon make up product in the line. This is old Avon SuperShock Vivid liquid eye shadow in Chromed Cocoa. It comes in this lip gloss type of packaging with the dove foot applicator, the pigment settles on the bottom and water like liquid stays at the top before using it you have to shake it to mix the two component and then you apply it straight to the lid. At first it feels a bit wet but it settles quickly so you have to be fast, I used the applicator to get it on the lid and then I blend it with my fingertips. The color sheers out but you can always apply more layer but be careful, it can start look patchy and thick if you use too much. I personally prefer more sheer look so one layer was usually enough but it gets more orangey bronze, I also struggled with the perfect application. On one eye I always used more than on the other or went too high up in my crease. To get the symmetrical look on both eyes was hard, I started to force myself to use it more often but I decided to stop. I have way too many beautiful eye shadows that are much easier to navigate and I like the colors better so why bother?

Second to last product is a replacement. Mine was exactly the same only in the old packaging. I took it with me on a vacation because it was almost empty and I estimated that I will be able to use it up completely but I must of lost it so I borrowed my moms new version of it. It is Avon ultra shiny gloss in Naturally Nude (now it is offered under the Mark brand and has white details instead of black). These glosses are some of my favorite and I was so happy that they came back with them. I used to own 7 tubes of them but now I'm gradually using them all up, in fact I'm only left with two and when they will be gone I will repurchase them again. My favorite and still available are Watermelon Pop and the one above in Naturally Nude. This shade is nude with a hint of peach in it and it has a cream finish (some shades have shimmer). They smell fruity and sweet and last for quite a while. The convenient tube makes application super easy and while the tubes hold whooping 15 ml of product they are small enough to fit in almost any pocket.

The very last item is Figs & Rouge Wild Cherry lip balm. I already used up one of them and I don't like them. They are natural and organic but nothing special in terms of moisture. The formula feels very thin and it disappears from the lips pretty fast, this one was clear so I used it on my cuticles as well. At first it feels very greasy but in terms of nourishing it felt flat. The scent was very fake. I actually can't think of one thing that I liked about it. Unfortunately I have one more to go through but I will leave it till next year, I feel like I need a break from this disappointing formula.




Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

it is pretty obvious that we are having a burning hot Summer. I have used up a lot of Sun lotions and I haven't had any burn on my body, jet. I still have plenty to go through (this year alone I purchased 6 bottles of Sun cream and I still have some left from last year).

First tube is Sun Dance cream with SPF 50. It is old and not completely used up but it is very greasy and it leaves obvious white cast so I'm tossing it, did I mentioned that it is old?

Next is Avon Sun+ lotion for kids with SPF 30. It is light blue which is great if you have some minor red spots because the cool color counteracts it but you are left with bluish hands afterwards. This one too is a little too old to be used in a safe matter so I'm discharging it. 

Third one is my favorite, it is Hawaiian Tropic with SPF 50. I noticed that they changed the packaging and the highest protection that they are offering from this line is 30, I'm a little disappointed but probably I will still repurchased it next year (I just bought 6 full bottles and tubes from another brand so I think I'm good for a while). The cream itself is white and cream colored so it won't give you that white cast and the scent is phenomenal. 

Fourth one and last for this month (yep, I am planning on using up some more next month) is another one from Sun Dance and it is not as old as the first one so I used it all up. It is for the face, neck and chest area with an SPF of 30. They claim to be mattifying fluid. I agree that it is quite liquid but not mattifying enough for me. I also didn't liked the white cast that was left after applying on top of the greasy feeling so I used it on my body and I was done with it faster. This one is not something I would repurchase.

Next we have Fruit of the Earth aloe body lotion. It was milky and I would never guessed that it has aloe in it because of the texture which is nothing like the aloe vera. It had a generic and barely there scent, it was not bad but I got spoiled by some amazing moisturizers so this felt a bit bland. It absorbed quickly but I didn't have a feeling that it would moisturize my skin well. I was glad when it was gone and I won't bother getting it again.

Avon Advance Technques heat protection spray was something I purchased ages ago. I rarely do any heat styling so this was completely unnecessary. I ended up using it on my hair when I went to the beach. I don't know if it works like that, if it protects my hair from the sun but I thought that it can't hurt, right? Otherwise it had that lovely scent that all Avon A.T. products have but my complaint would be that it made my hair sticky. They would get all tangled, in a way it is good because I was able to create some texture in my hair but on the windy day at the beach it just looked messy.

I bought not so long ago this Himalaya clarina anti acne clay mask and I used it very consistently. It is this typical clay mask that gets dry and manages to pull the gunk out of your pores. My skin felt better after one use (I mean in the morning after because whenever I remove clay masks my skin looks all red and irritated and this one wasn't an exception). The next day my skin looked better, pores looked clearer if not completely clear, acne were reduced or completely gone. I have to give two thumbs up for this one but there is one drawback and it occurs shortly after applying it. When it sits on my face it starts to burn around extra sensitive areas, in my case that it the nose. It felt cold and hot at the same time, very weird and unpleasant but after I got through this phase it worked and I might repurchase it in the near future (I bough another mask from the same brand which is also for oily skin types so I will see how that one will work).

Lastly I have another face mask and this on is from Lush and it is one of their fresh masks. I have Catastrophe Cosmetics and I already talked about it last week. It was great for my oily and acne prone skin. It helped reduce the big boys and clear out the smaller fellas. It didn't feel hot or cold on my skin and after I rinsed it off my skin didn't look red or angry but rather happy and moisturized. I already repurchased it along with another mask from the brand. I will report back as soon as I start using it.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day