Empties

 Hello,

this end of the month really creeped on me. March came and went by way too fast for me.

First I have Taft heat protection hair spray. It had a nice sprayer but I don't have any special feelings about it. I never know if a heat protection works, I just try to use it every time I use heat to at least pretend I care for my hair. I liked this one but I still have a few others that I need to use up first before going shopping.

Next is Too cool for school Egg Remedy Hair Pack hair mask and it is really nice. It is rather thicker paste and because of it it grips on the hair and deeply conditions them. It has beautiful warm and floral scent. The best were the results, my hair were silky and smooth after using it and now I can't find it anymore :( I would buy ten more if I could, my hair love it and the scent lingered through the next day.

Then there is Korres French Lilac body lotion. It is a bit thicker than the rest from the line and the scent is realistic and super strong. I had a few of their lotions before and scents were only meh, but this one is gorgeous and longlasting. I would get this one again.

In the morning I used Chloe Nomad body lotion all over (on top I would spray the matching perfume). This has a beautiful scent and I liked it even better than the perfume. There is juicy Mirabelle scent with Oakmoss and some woody notes. Very likeable and fresh for the Spring. I would get it again, perhaps next year.

In the back there is Avon anew purifying jelly cleanser with charcoal extract. I expected this one to be black in color but it was clear gel. It didn't foam much but I felt like it did their job without stripping my skin. I still have a bunch of face washes that I need to use up but this one wasn't bad at all.

Green bottle is Nuxe Marine Seaweed skin correcting moisturising fluid for oily skin. It has heavenly honey scent but the texture is a bit weird. It just sits on top of my skin at first. It creates white lotion streaks but after 10 min it starts absorbing and creating matte effect on the skin. I like it the most for the scent, but those streaks bother me and I will not be buying it again.

Last bottle with blue label is It's Skin Firefighter enriched with Licorice root extract to help soothe, evening out the skin tone and brightening. I liked using it because of its light texture but I have not noticed any big difference in my skin tone so probably I will not be buying it again.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

this time I combined my empties from the past two months into one. There were some unforgettable products that really made an impact on me.

First is Syoss keratin heat spray. My mom used to love this brand so I decided to try this heat protection spray. It did smell very nice and was very liquid in texture. I don't know how well it protected my hair since heat damage isn't something I can detect quickly. My hair don't look split or dry but I did notice less frizz, so it had to do something :) plus I really liked the scent. I will probably get it again but first I have to use up the product I am using right now.

Big bottle next to it is Bioderma Atoderm ultra-soothing balm, great for sensitive and reactive skin. I had high hopes for it but the best part for me was the packaging. I liked the pump but the product wasn't nourishing enough. My skin went through itchy faze and this balm didn't help me much. I was glad that it was used up and I won't be buying it again.

Next is another body balm and it is The body Shop Argan lotion. The scent on this is divine, the texture is light but the scent just keep on lingering. As weird as it might sound this felt more nourishing on my skin than the previous balm... I would get it again but our shop is closed, I fear that it is permanent.

A little while ago I was eager to find face cream with Salicylic acid and I have purchased a bunch of La Roche Posay products. First to go for a spin was this Effaclar duo + cream with corrective and unclogging care for anti-imperfections lotion. I used this a few days in a row all over my face and little pimples emerge. I stopped using it and after my skin calmed down I used it again and same thing happened so at the end I was using it sparingly, two or three times a week just to get it done. Something in it just doesn't suit me. It could be the zinc but I can't be sure.

This is my second tube of Essence bye, bye panda eyes mascara. I really liked it the first time and my love continues. It coats my lashes, makes them a bil longer and thicker but not clumpy (I don't like the clumpy look), quite natural but a bit more visible and I liked the name as well. It just made me smile.

On the bottom there is Ahava Time to Hydrate active moisture gel cream (I previously had day moisturiser from the same line but this one feels lighter in texture). I was using it in warmer days and it was perfect. The other one felt a bit light and not hydrating enough but I have used it in cooler weather so I did not made the same mistake and I did use this one when my skin didn't need a heavy layer and it was really nice. The mix of gel and cream texture felt perfect. I would get it again for warmer days.

In the past I used up one of these Beauty of Joseon serums and I wasn't too impressed, now I have the remaining two (I know there is a fourth one out there but i don't have it). One is Glow Deep Serum with Rice and Alpha-Arbutin, the other is Glow Serum with Propolis and Niacinamide. The first one felt like water and I used it under moisturisers but with not much of an effect. Second one was my favorite, I assume Propolis made the texture thicker and my face had glow for longer. Somehow I conected that with hydration and under the line the glow serum with Propolis was my favorite but I can't decide if it is worth buying it again. 

My favorite COSRX product is this salicylic acid face wash. It creates thick white foam/cast and it is so soft to the touch. I noticed that I was massaging it into my skin for minutes since it is so pleasant and my skin loves it. The active ingredient helps my oily and acne prone skin stay fresh, only thing is that this seems to be out of stock here (it is back :)

At the end I used up two mini hand creams. I love these in my purse as little helpers on the go. I purchased a set of Frudia hand creams, that is the reason I have so many at once. Brown lid indicates richer texture. I am usually not a fan of thicker creams but this particular one in Cactus was an exception. The scent was freas and fruity and the formula quickly absorbed into my skin. The other one is Banana scented (it was like the real fruit but sweeter) and it should be lighter in texture but it wasn't. They felt quite similar besides the scent. I like both of them and would get them again. 

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

a little late but still here none the less. It is my 'collection' of empties and it is dare to say a big one.

First purple bottle is Avon Encanto inspiring body lotion creamy violet. It has a lovely floral and slightly fruity scent. Very nice bed time fragrance, moisturizing properties are ok but I don't like how I can't take every bit out of it. I feel like the lotion is slightly too thick and it would be better to be in a squeeze out tube, at least in my opinion.

Next is Balea Niacinamide serum. In the past I had one from The Ordinary and because I couldn't get it I just found another option. I'm not so sure about this one, I haven't noticed any big difference but maybe that is just because when I finished up the first bottle I started to use this one and I used it regularly. I will try not to open the new bottle and see if I can spot the difference now after when it is gone...

I purchased this tube already last year and I don't remember having issues but this year my face burst out in pimples while on vacation (maybe it is already expired) and I can blame ether this or BB cream... so this vacation I only used it on my body and just finished it up. It is Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+, soothing repairing care with a very high chemical protection for weakened skin exposed to the sun. I liked that is wasn't particularly greasy or left much white cast. I still applied BB cream over it for some coverage and my face didn't burn. In theory I really liked it but that mass of pimples bothered me so much that probably I won't buy it again even though I'm not 100% sure this cream is to blame (now I used one form Shiseido and a different BB cream and I didn't get any pimples...).

Little 10 ml bottle is travel sized bottle of Mugler Alien Goddess fragrance. I really liked this one, it is still very tropical, fun time on the beach type of a fragrance but to my nose it doesn't resemble to the Alien EDP. It is a completely different scent and while I really enjoy wearing it I won't buy it in a larger bottle since I already have a few other bottles with similar vibe and I really don't need another one but since this is a refillable bottle (I love that) I will keep it and maybe put something else inside.

 Next bottle is from Langhaar Mädchen and it is heat protector and has anti-frizz effect. I really like this item, at first I fell in love with the scent, floral and creamy at the same time (this smell really resonates with me as it smell like hair 'should' smell like, it has a hair saloon type of a scent but in the most pleasant one). When I didn't use it my hair were more frizzy and less shiny so I made a point in using it every single time after washing my hair. I would shake it well and generously apply it all over my hair and the next day my hair were silky soft, just the way I like it. I will start using a different heat protection serum (I heard a lot of good stuff about it from two different people and I can't wait to see how it performs). It has big shoes to fill since I loved this one so very much.

Next bottle isn't very exciting, it is Ebelin nail polish remover. It is very efficient and it cost very little. I already repurchased it and I'm planning on buying it more even in the future.

I stopped counting how many tubes of this face moisturizer I finished up. To put it simply, it has everything in it. Great packaging (I love how thin the tube is, very convenient for traveling), lightweight texture (I have oily skin and something light yet moisturizing is very well received from my skin) and very efficient when it comes to moisturizing. I'm already using new tube and have a backup of this little 'miracle' Neutrogena oil free moisturizer.

 

Long gone is this Catrice eye shadow in the shade Princess Mattleine. When I bought it years ago it was already being discontinued so I know I can't get it again but fortunately I already have something similar in my collection to replace this beautiful dusty rose shade with lovely sateen finish. I especially loved it on my cheeks, it wasn't bold or anything outrageous but it rather gave my cheeks a little definition which is the perfect way to go for me. At the end I liked to also sweep a little over my lids but the focus remained on the face. Great shadow for that all over look.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

I'm back with a few empties. Nothing to big this time but just a bunch of every day items.

Neutrogena unfragranced hand cream in a limited edition packaging. This was actually really nice and if I'm not mistaken I bought two at the time (they were meant as a gift but I changed my mind and kept both). This has a thick formula and a little goes a long way. It immediately smooths over dry areas and creates film on my skin to protect it further on. It is not sticky or leaves greasy prints. This 75ml tube lasted me for months and I think it was really awesome. I'm super glad that I have another one on hand.

Next is Avon advance Technique heat protection spray. My bottle is very old and I'm not sure if it still works but I still used it up. I guess it can't hurt. I would use it on damp hair after I would get out of the shower and blow dry them. I didn't noticed any big difference but if I used too much my hair would be a bit crunchy the next day, so key is to use a little bit at the time. This is a product that I probably won't repurchase it again.

Tube is another Neutrogena product and this is visibly clear in the shower face mask. You are supposed to use it on wet face under the shower, leave it on for a minute and rinse. I liked how convenient and fast it was but at the end I didn't noticed that big of a difference on my skin opposed to some clay masks which are supposed to dry completely. I liked it enough to finish it up but next time I will get something different. I prefer my clarifying face masks to show better results with every use.

The very last item is Ombia cosmetics face mousse with Aloe Vera. It was very inexpensive product from the store and I decided to give it a go. I was actually very nicely surprised. It didn't irritate my skin and managed to remove my make-up or oil buildup. Very nice face wash for morning or evening. If I see it again I would repurchase it again.

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

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