Empties

 Hello,

my goodness how time flies. I had some other post half ready but my laziness was in the way. Oh well, there is still more time next month ;)

Lets first start with Biobaza purple fresh body lotion with Lavender and Lemon. I love anything lavender so combination with lemon sounded nice enough to get it and the fresh jet calming lavender note in here is absolutely lovely. I love the scent but the packaging is a bit off for me. The lotion is quite liquid so the tube which has the opening at the bottom is a bit inconvenient (some of the product got spilled before I adjusted and started to shaking the tube upside down before opening it). I started to use it right after I got home form a vacation and perhaps my skin was a bit dry and I felt like this didn't moisturize it enough on its own. I love the scent but I feel like it is not nourishing enough for me... I bough another tube at the same time with a different scent so soon I will test it out and then I will decide if this is something worth repurchasing or not.

Next is lovely Yves Rocher Monoi Lagoon hair and body wash. I absolutely adore this rich scent and it is great for vacation time or when I want to feel like I'm on a vacation. It is meant to be used all over the body and usually I don't use these multipurpose products on my hair but this smelled so nice that I used it as a shampoo and even the next day my hair smelled divine. I think every year they come out with this collection and I'm interesting in picking it up next year again.

This next yellow bottle is a bit hard to recognize but it is Yves Rocher Monoi body oil. I purchased it at the same time as the previous product but the oil on this one started to leak and the label came off completely. The scent was the same, tropical and super sweet, just how I like it. I don't think this oil is the best for my skin (not nourishing enough) but on a vacation I mixed it with Apricot oil (I finished it in my previous empties and I felt like the combo was really nice, moisturizing from the Apricot part and the Frangipani note in here made it a winner). I will probably repurchase it again next year because I adore the scent.

Then we have this mini sized Nivea MicellAIR water. I received it in an advent calendar which I bought a couple of years ago. It was scentless and really nice. I felt like it removed pretty much all of my make-up residue that was left after a two step cleansing method. I don't think I came across a 'bad' micellar water so far. At the moment I'm using something else but if I ever see this one on sale or with a nice price tag I will repurchase it again.

Second to last product was a complete fail for me. I remember buying the entire set (lotion, body wash, hand cream and this body spray and splitting it with my sister) but only now I decided to use it. It is Avon natural Milk and Honey body spray and this is pure alcohol, it settles down after a couple of minutes and then it has a nice creamy milk & honey scent but to get through the first minutes was a struggle that I did not want to endure. I decided to just pour it away and call it done. I'm not 100% sure if the high alcohol levels are due to its age or that is just the way it is, I definitely won't buy it again.

The very last item is one of my favorites and it is The Body Shop Moring hand cream. In general I like their hand creams but this scent put a spell on me. It is very heavy white floral with some underlaying creaminess. I absolutely love it, so much that I purchased the big tub of the body butter from the same scent and I can't wait to start using it. I would just like to touch on the formula a bit because I noticed that different scents have different textures. This one is almost a gel but a little goes a long way, if i used a bit too much it would get a bit sticky so I was careful not to use too much plus that means that I had this little 30 ml tube for months.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

I have a lot of empty bottles and some products that didn't work for me and will be passed along to people who might enjoy them. I currently don't need to buy anything, I will just replace all of these products with what I already have except for one product which was on sale because they are discontinuing it and I grabbed some back ups.

Yves Rocher Raspberry and Pepermint body lotion got me with its unique scent. I discovered that I love Raspberry and Mint and in this lotion they combined them and combo is really nice. The bad thing is that it can smell a bit plastic-y every once in a while. The pump was very convenient and the lotion absorbed rather fast. It was nice, moisturizing but nothing I would repurchase it again.

Next I have matching body spray and body lotion from Avon naturals Blackberry and Vanilla collection. The scent is creamy and a bit fruity but the fruitiness does not overtake the scent. It was one of my favorite scents from naturals but these lotions are notorious for not being moisturizing enough for me. Body spray also didn't do anything for me, the long lasting power in body sprays really isn't something to brag about. I most probably won't repurchase them again (I have another body spray left in a different scent and when that one is gone I'm done with them).

I bought this Garnier Argan face mist when it was still relatively new in the store and argan is know for being moisturizing... Very early on (after using it twice in a row) I started to notice massive breakouts so I stopped using it and let my skin heal. Trying it for the second time just to make sure this is really the products that doesn't work for me, put things into perspective for me. Yes, this toner didn't agree with my skin and at first I wanted to use it all over my body just to finish it up but I have way too many products and I decided to rather give it away and maybe it will work for someone else.

The two little cute bottles are The Body Shop energising Mandarin and mattifying Mint face mists which also didn't work for me, just like the toner I previously described, these cuties also break my skin out so I will be passing them along. The Mandarin one is very zesty and indeed refreshing, the green Mint smells more like a toothpaste and you have to shake it well before use because there is white powder (clay?) on the bottom to help with mattifying claim.

The first bottle is a bit hard to see but it is Sante clear nail polish which I used as a top coat. It gave my nails the shine and make them last longer. It was fine and I'm not really thinking repurchasing it again (this bottle was a gift, I didn't buy it myself) because I have another top coat from Catrice to go through.

Next is one of my favorite lipstick formulas that has sadly been discontinued and it is Catrice ultimate shine gel color in the Don't fear the sheer!. The moisturizing formula, glossy feel and even the bright coral shade suited me a lot in my opinion. I really wish they would bring them back but right now I have some others in the testing process and maybe Catrice did remake them and put them in a different packaging... This is my very last one after a handful of them that I bought when they were discontinuing them. I haven't completely finished it up because it went bad but like I said, I have a lot of lipsticks and some are really good.

The very last item is my favorite night time eye cream and it is Avon anew hydro-advance eye cream. It is a bit thicker so I only use it at night, in the morning I don't have the time to wait for it to absorb and using it on a longer period of time I did noticed that my lines were less pronounces and my skin looked well taken care of and moisturized. Last week I noticed that they quietly discontinued it but I was able to find it on the sale pages and I ordered three more... it is safe to say that I'm good for this year when it comes to eye cream and then I will have to slowly start to look for a new one.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

I wanted to start this year with more of a bang but mid of the month caught me and it is empties time.

First is Aveo nail polish remover. Nothing special but very cheap and effective. That is all I can say and need from a nail polish remover.

Mueller jojoba oil was on sale so it was obviously calling me  ;) I noticed that jojoba oil is quite moisturizing on my skin and has quickly become one of my favorite oils. Since this is gone I already started using a new bottle. I used it on my face to gently melt my make up off (I always follow with a face wash to remove oils and clinging make up) but my skin felt really nice since the oil method doesn't require any harsh moves. After a thorough cleanse I would apply a fresh layer of this oil on my face over some night serum and my skin felt hydrated and loved.

This body butter used to be my favorite but now I though it was just average (how our taste changes through the years, are you amazed just as I am?). It is Avon skin so soft body butter with shea butter. It has nice comforting, creamy scent and the butter is thick . You have to warm it up and massage it a bit in order to let it absorb and not be sticky. Nowdays I prefer lotions which sinks into my skin faster.

This next cream is a total winner in my books. I always liked this line of hand creams and this particular scent is amazing. Avon care hand cream with banana doesn't smell plasticky or weird but rather like that dessert (foamy bananas covered in chocolate from Casali, one of my favorite snacks). I am in need of a new tube.

Second to last is this Yves Rocher nutri silky conditioner which was given to my by my sister (she tried it but didn't like it so she passed it onto me). I was unsure but when I actually tried it  I was sold. My hair felt silky smooth and very straight (they are naturally straight anyways but sometimes there is a random wave in there) not after I used this conditioner. My hair looked perfect, like I just got out of a saloon with a fresh cut. Basically, my hair looked like I put some effort in it when I just washed them. I will definitely repurchase it again if it is still available.

The last item is this magical Avon senses gelato moments, vanilla ice cream body wash. It is a bit thicker and it smells exactly like vanilla ice cream. It is crazy how good it smells and I want it back.


Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

I keep myself really busy lately and I don't have too much time to spare but I'm still taking care of myself and have some empties to show it to you before I take them to the bin.

I will start with two lip glosses. The Catrice Alluring Reds Moulin's Rouge gloss was fantastic, this formula was one of my favorite (this is a limited edition shade but the formula is the same as it was on their shine appeal liquid lipsticks). Pigmented and very glossy, just the way I like it. Also this 'soft' red shade was great.

Next one is Avon's ultra glazewear absolute gloss in the shade Renewing Rose (my second tube of it). This soft mauve shade worked with my naturally pigmented lips really well and the formula is another of my favorites. I'm happy that I have another backup somewhere but I will have to start wearing it ASAP because I'm too scared that it might go bad.

I was super curious about this new line of Lush face masks so I bought The birth of Venus jelly mask. The guy helped me out and recommended me this one for the oily skin. It comes like a nice, smooth jelly but you have to cut it (I just used my nails to get it out) that is why it looks like rabbits nib on it ;) This formula is so weird and I couldn't get used to it. The instructions said that you take a little piece and mix it with some water and it should emulsify and create paste/foam to massage your face with it. Well, I did everything but this jelly just didn't want to dissolve and I always managed to drop it ether in the sink or shower (wherever I was at the time). It is so frustrating that I'm just tossing it in the trash. I even took a piece and put it in a little container filled with water and it stayed solid. I don't know how this is supposed to work or maybe I got the 'broken' one?

I don't go often to the Yves Rocher store but whenever I go I always get something for free and this one was another free product. I got to choose the scent and they just gave it to me. I picked up the Orange blossom and Lavender scented body butter because I'm obsessed with lavender  but this one smells more like orange blossom, a bit bitter and not so much like the purple flower. It was thick and it did moisturize my skin well but it was nothing too impressive so I won't repurchase it not even in other scents.

Avon care glycerin hand, nail and cuticle cream is my favorite cream. I have gone through so many tubes of it and it is always somewhere near me. At the moment I have one at work and one at home next to my tv remote. Sometimes I pick the limited edition packaging in the Winter time or slightly scented Spring options to spice thing up. They always have the same formula that I love so much so different packaging is just for my visual pleasure.

 Avon Femme perfume was a little Rose scented perfume. I would use it solo or in combination with some other scents. It honestly is nothing special just Rose scented perfume but I liked it. I probably won't repurchase it again because it didn't last on me plus at the moment I still have so many full bottles that I'm on a complete no buy considering scents but the Christmas and New Year discounts are coming and I will feel weak so I have to save my money till then at least ;)

The very last item is this Batiste heavenly volume dry shampoo. I like their formula even though I have to be careful not to spray too much because of the white cast. I already used and repurchased Peony one which is divine for  my nose  ;) but this one smells just like the 'old' dry shampoos. Not disgusting but also not too pleasant and the volume that they are promising was just making my hair sticky. I won't spend my money on this one again but I will try some other scents.




Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

wow, this month really went by too fast. It is already the last day of Autumn and we are entering Mr. Winter tomorrow. I collected a handful amount of make-up, skin care, body care, hair care and even one nail treatment.

I will start with an Avon Clearskin blemish clearing bubble cleanser. I remember having one before in a different packaging but the concept is the same. It is liquid but when you press it down the light foam comes up which cleansed my face nicely, it wasn't too drying but I used it up way too fast. I think it lasted me only one month and I won't repurchase it again.

Next is L'oreal Micellar water which is already a repurchase. I like it a lot, it cleanses my skin and it is cheap. I received the new version of it which is now housed in a round bottle and the size is twice as big. I think it will last me for a long time and probably I will repurchase it again or maybe I will try something new.

In the green bottle is already discontinued Avon naturals Great Burdock and Nettle hair mist. It smells fresh like a forest after rain and it instantly makes my hair less frizzy and smoother, the effect doesn't last for long but it is a nice and quick 'fixer' and because it is not oil based I can use a little more and I'm not afraid of oily hair. This is my third bottle of it and I have one more backup left and after that one is gone it is gone.

In the little red tube is Yves Rocher Cranberry cooling effect face mask. I had it for a couple of years and maybe because it was a bit older I didn't noticed any cooling effect on my skin so I just used it up but I haven't noticed any difference so I won't be repurchasing again.

Now, Holika Holika Petite Essential BB cream was one of my absolute favorites and they don't make it anymore. They first replaced it with Bouncing one which was nothing like this and now they cleared all of them out and have a completely new Lolipop line. This baby was pigmented and so easy to spread, it covered my imperfections, I just had to set it well to stick it onto my face. The color was nice and fair but I sometimes mixed it with something lighter to adapt to my skin color better. I would definitely repurchase it again if it would still be around.

Under orange tube of perfection is pink Avon Anew Vitale BB cream which was a bit of a flop compared with the HH one. It was light but on my face it turned too pink after some minutes plus the coverage was so light that only people with already perfect skin could use it and be happy. I still used it up but on my neck just to connect my face with the rest of my body. I'm glad that it is gone and I have some other BB creams that disappointed me with low coverage that I can use on my neck and will replace this one.

The only one nail product is this old Avon nail experts adhesive base coat. Some time ago I added some golden nail polish to create my custom golden shimmery top coat but I didn't like it at all so I still used it as a base coat under my colored nail polishes and now I finally used it all up.

Melvita Damask Rose floral water was nice. I like the toners in spray bottles to refresh my make-up after I'm done with my cream products. I find that a little spritz of toner helps everything blend better together and absorbe into my skin so the result is more natural. Afterward I powder my skin and apply my mascara and I'm done. I find reaching for this trick more in the cooler months but even in the hot Summer sometimes a little refreshment is crucial. This particular bottle was a gift with purchase and in the past I already went through one of them already but I have to admit that I prefer the Lavender one a little better.

The very last item is the Rituals Touch of Happines ultra rich, whipped body cream. I loved the sweet orange and cedar wood scent which is so very 'me'. It was comforting and relaxing but I went through it way too fast. I don't think I would repurchase it even though this brand would be available to me. In general I adore their product but the price tags are a bit high so I usually get them as gifts from my lovely sister when she travels and brings them back to me as souvenirs.




Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

I know it has been a while but I'm back, back with another empties post just to let you know I'm still alive and kicking.

In the past I bought two body washes from Balea but the scents turned out to be very plastic and gross. This one on the other hand changed my mind. Jamaica vibes smelled like fresh pineapples and the scent lasted all the way till the end. If I could still find it in the store I would repurchase it in a heartbeat.

Next bottle is Avon naturals Apricot and Shea body lotion which is one of my favorites from this line. I don't find naturals lotions from Avon to be the most moisturizing but I buy them because of the scent. I can't remember through how many bottles of this scent I already went through (three or four and I still have one full backup left) but if it would still be available I would get more.

Lush makes this amazing fresh mask called Catastrophe cosmetic.  It contains chunks of blueberries and when it dries the texture remind me of clay ones but apparently it doesn't contain any. My skin right afterwards feels soft, smooth and nourished, the next day I can notice my acne being reduced and less swollen. For me this mask does 'miracles' but it doesn't feel too strong or abrasive. Right now I have another one (Cosmetic warrior) in my fridge but I can already tell you that CC will be the one I will buy the next time I visit the store.

For a couple of years I have been loyal to Avon deodorants but just for fun I decided to get something different, something to break the routine. I decided to get Dove Original moisture cream anti-perspirant. First of all the scent is just what I like, it smells fresh like I just got out of the shower and after a long day of sweating my armpits still smell fresh. The creamy consistency absorbs fast and right after applying it I could get dressed and it didn't leave marks on my dark clothes. I seriously don't have any negative things to say about it. I went to the store and wanted to get the same scent only in a roll-on version (just because I always used this type and I started to miss it) but I decided to get different scent which I ended up loving just as much as this one but the cream is definitely more moisturizing and it absorbs faster.

A while ago I purchased this Yves Rocher instant youthful effect foundation in the shade 100 beige.  I have a full review of it here. I like the natural finish, the undertone matched me but the shade itself was a bit dark for me (that was before I got lightening drops). It worked with my skin pretty well in the cooler months when my skin wasn't excessively oily but in the Summer it didn't control my oils enough and I stopped using it and started replacing with with other products. This past week I remembered that this is still around and I wanted to start using it again but it started to separate really badly so I think it is time to let go of it.

The very last item is this Manhattan colour splash liquid lip tint in the shade Hint of Pink. It has  a very strong fruity scent and liquid texture which absorbs fast when you are applying it. The texture doesn't allow you to go over it once the first layer is drying. The color at first looks soft but give it a minute or two and it will turn into a bright fuchsia pink. I think that the formula was pretty long lasting but it was the bright shade that didn't suit my everyday mood so I rarely used it. I think I used it only once or twice this year and I know myself, I know I would rarely use it so I might as well just toss it and rather use lippies that suits me better.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

we are already on the half of the month and that means collecting my empty beauty products, take photos of them and publish them on the almighty web.

First item is Avon Planet SPA Oriental Radiance balancing facial cleanser. I reviewed it already here so I will try to be short. The pump packaging is lovely and it can also be locked so it is also travel friendly. It is a clear gel which foams up after you mix it with water and it efficiently removes all the build up grease and it smells like a fresh cut grass. In my books this baby is a winner and I will definitely repurchase it soon.

It was not long time ago since I wrote about this Avon naturals Winterberry and Shea shimmering body lotion, for longer review you can click here. The scent is phenomenal, warm and rich, texture is great, you don't need whole lot but it moisturizes like something much more expensive stuff. It is slightly tinted but nothing to worry about if you let it sink in and also it contains golden shimmers which I'm not a fan of but they are bearable. This is my second used up tube and I have one more backup, next year I will probably repurchase it again.

Bottle in the middle is from Omnia cosmetics and it is a coconut scented nail polish remover. I honestly couldn't detect any special scent so I wouldn't really suggest you to rush and get it for the scent alone. It was a nice remover but I found similar ones for even less money (Essence, Aveo) or if I will want something really scented then I will repurchase Afrodita's nail polish removers.

Next is Avon naturals Green tea and Verbena scented body mist. I started to use it in the middle of the Summer when it felt really refreshing and nice. The scent itself was very fresh and flowery but weak enough to not give me a headache. I like the scent but it didn't really knocked me out of my socks and I also wasn't too impressed with its staying power. I'm happy that I tried it but I won't repurchase it again.

Last bottle is Yves Rocher Lagoon moisturizing body mist with Monoi flower. I bought it last Summer and you can see I'm not done with it but if you look at the right bottom corner you can see something white in the bottle, that is because it went bad. Did you ever had natural apple juice? And you left it open for too long? Then you will know that the texture changed and it got a bit thick and fuzzy at the bottom, that is exactly what happened with this product. I don't want to open it up and sniff it because I might dropped dead. I still love this scent, it is like the most beautiful Summer memory caught in the bottle just waiting for you to remember. I still have the body oil and I will make sure I will use it up next year. If I return back to the spray version I would definitely love to have it back in my collection but it is only available in the Summer but I think it would be better if I try to use up some more sprays and perfumes before repurchasing but I will buy it again, probably not next year but maybe year after.

The very last item is a lipstick sample from old Avon Ultra Color Rich line in the shade Sparkling Blush. It is a nice cherry red lipstick with shimmer, I mostly wore it more as a stain (second smeared swatch) just to add some tint to my lips. In the past I loved to wear bright colors on my lips but I'm getting older and now I prefer more toned down shades so if this would still be available I wouldn't buy it. I love the now reformulated line of the Ultra Color lipsticks and I have plenty to go through if I will buy more shades they will most definitely be more natural.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Monoi spray

Hello,

I'm back with something nicely scented. A while ago I wrote about the oil and since I also have the body spray version of the same scent I decided to post it here plus I checked their offical page and this line is available again.

Yves Rocher Monoi body spray

So, this is Yves Rocher Monoi body spray. The scent is the same, a bit tropical and coconut-y. It instantly teleports you into paradise. I love using them in conjunction. I moisturize my body with the oil and I follow up with the spray, a little spritz over my clothes and hair so the scent lingers longer.
This has to be my favorite combo for the warmer months, I started using them last year but honestly the year was to short. I will use them up before the summer will be over and I will definitely repurchase.

P.S. I also have the shampoo in the same scent. Yes, I know I sound a bit crazy but it smells so good. I'm only missing the perfume and oil with golden shimmer, well maybe this year I will complete the collection   ;)


Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Monoi oil

Hello,

last year I purchased this special oil only because the scent is so good. I swear, when you sniff this thing there is no turning back.
I also bought the spray version and body wash with the same scent.

Yves Rocher Monoi dry oil

It is from Yves Rocher and it is named Monoi dry oil. The oil really does absorb fast and the scent lingers all day, specially when you put your clothes on and you add a bit on your hair. You will smell like a goddess. The scent is warm and summery with a bit of coconut notes. I can't quite explain but when I close my eyes I can easily imagine myself relaxing by the sea under a palm tree somewhere in the paradise.
If they will bring it back this year I'm definitely repurchasing it.



Thankyou for reading and have a nice day

Yves Rocher Instant youthful effect foundation

Hello,
today I have a short review of Yves Rocher Instant youthful effect foundation. It comes in a glass jar that holds 30 ml of product. On top it has a pump and for me a pump and a half or sometimes two pumps are enough for the whole face. It doesn't have a cap but the top of the pump is rotating and when you push it to the left it is locked and that makes it a little bit safer if you travel with it (so far it survived in my bag without spilling).

Yves Rocher Instant youthful effect foundation Beige 100

The color range is divided by skin undertones, so they have Rose (more pink toned) and Beige (it says neutral but for me it is quite yellow undertone). I have the shade Beige 100, there is even a lighter shade in the beige range and it has a number 000 (I think it would suit me better but they didn't have it at the store). There are 9 or 10 shades in total, it depends from where you are. Here in Slovenia we only have 9 shades but somewhere they have a shade more. 

The formula is liquid but not too much. It spreads nicely over the skin and cover smaller blemishes. If I want better coverage on certain areas I just layer it and it looks pretty natural except the shade is a hint too dark for me so I have to be careful and blend it well. 

I don't use it every day because I still prefer my BB creams. A lot of people think that they are light in coverage but that is not true. You can check my previous post about BB creams and I have to say that most of them have better coverage than this foundation. 

For me it is the finish of this foundation that makes it so nice. It is not dewy but also not completely matte. I would say it is more on the matte side, more velvety. The staying power is because of that also really great. I have oily face but now in cooler months it's not as obvious as it is usually. When I apply it I use powder on top and that is it. I don't touch it for the rest of the day. Sure it gets more dewy towards the evening but nothing too serious. So when I come home after a long day this foundation still looks pretty nice so from me it gets a thumb up.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day 

Oranges in Autumn

Hello,
today I have two lip products that I'm using this season non stop. They are moisturizing and nourishing, perfect in this cold weather.

Yves Rocher lipstick no. 21 Peach, first you notice pretty packaging. Combination of purple and white and the flower print on the cap (I admit that was the reason that I picked it up and tried it and eventually bought it). It is lovely looking but also a bit cheap. I have been very careful (I haven't drop it on the floor or carry it around in my purse) but the cap still cracked. That for me is a big no no. When you open it up you can smell oranges, the scent is very fair and once you apply it on the lips you can't detect it anymore. The texture is very soft and creamy actually very balm like. If I wear it on its own the entire day my lips don't get dry but are very nice and soft. So this lipstick does act like a proper lip balm. When it comes to the color I have to say that it is very nice in the tube but it doesn't really translate on the lips. It is very sheer even if I layer it.

Terra Naturi Orange & Citrus is a natural lip balm that was given to me by my mom. I don't think I would ever picked it up. I don't know why but I never really looked at it. I have been using it for over a month and I have to say it is magnificent. I think it costs only 0,99€ and the ingredients are natural so it is not harmful for your body. It has a very pleasant orange scent that stays on your lips for a while. It doesn't bother me because I personally like citrusy scents. The balm itself is yellow but it doesn't have any color when you apply it but it gives your lips a bit of a gloss. My lips are moisturized and hydrated but the product disappears very fast so constant reapplying is needed. The balm is one of the best I have tried especially if you take the price in consideration. I think it is safe to say that I will repurchase it in the future.

And on the bottom photo (if you enlarge it you can see it better) you can see two cracks on the cap. I don't know how this happened because I have been very careful. The product costs 4,70€ and the product you get is nice, it is not a lipstick (in my opinion) but more of a tinted lip balm. When I take all that in consideration I don't think I will buy more shades. The flimsy packaging is simply too much for me.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day