Empties

Hello,

I like Fall and I always get excited for it but at the same time I don't want to let go of Summer. I enjoy in brisk weather and long sleeved sweaters but I surround myself with fruity and fresh scents which reminds me of a vacation and the beach.

I ended up not one but two body washes. First is Avon Senses Rio Cocktail limited edition one which if I'm not mistaken came out last year and it is no longer available. I absolutely loved the scent which reminded me of pina colada cocktail, it was supposed to be cooling but I haven't noticed that. I would repurchase it if I could because the scent really got me.

The other wash is from Rituals and it is from their Hammam Olive Secret line with Refreshing Eucalyptus & Organic Olive, on the tube it actually says that it is ultra hydrating shower paste and I couldn't agree more with the paste one. The consistency is something like I have never experienced. It is not watery but more jelly like and you need a lot of water to make it emulsify, it just absorb all the water and you can't spread it until you add enough and even then it doesn't get all bubbly. I guess that way it lasts you a really long time because it works almost as a concentrate. Anyways, at the back you can read that it offers purifying ceremony for body and soul (I have only tried a couple of their products and they are really into this whole soul ideology with their products and I have to admit that the scents and textures of their products are innovative and new plus I have always really enjoyed their products). The scent is very strong of Eucalyptus and I love it, I actually started using it on my face for deep cleansing and I stopped when it got in my eye and it burned like hell, totally my fault because it isn't recommended to use on faces. I really loved it but I don't know if I would repurchase it again, Rituals products aren't available here in my county and since it was a gift I don't know how much it costs but I have a feeling that it wasn't cheap. I prefer to spend some more money on lotions and moisturizers and save on body washes.

Next is a lotion from Avon Skin So Soft firming and restoring line. This is really old, I even forgot that I have it when I rediscover it at the beginning of the Summer. The scent is barely there so nothing to get excited about. The lotion itself is on the watery side and it takes a while to absorb, it makes sense the more you massage it the firmer the skin. Still, since it was so old I haven't noticed any difference and my skin got itchy after a couple of weeks of using it which is a clear sign that my skin is getting dry and it is only a matter of days when it will start to flake. I started to pair it with oil to get some moisture but I was glad that it was gone and I will not repurchase it ever again.

This is my third or fourth Batiste dry shampoo for blondes can. I like how efficient it is but I don't like the scent (it reminds me of old socks) but thankfully it fades away and I also don't appreciate the residue. When I go through my hair with my fingers I don't like all that powder on my hands, it looks jucky. I decided that I won't repurchase it again but I will try one of the scented versions from them and then I will decide if I'm done with the brand.

First lip product is Avon Color Trend limited edition gloss (you can tell from the blue cap) in the shade Set Sail Pink. In general I really like their glosses and this one was no different. Soft pink color with subtle pearly shimmer that wasn't too distracting. It had their typical vanilla/caramel scent and I used it a lot lately but before I could completely finish it I think it went bad. The color started to turn, it was supposed to be a happy light pink shade but now it is peachy nude and also it got a weird taste so I'm tossing it.

Lipstick is only a sample but it is one of my favorite shades ever. It is Avon Ultra Color Rich Colordisiac lipstick in the shade Can't resist Coral. If it would still be available I would buy the full size for sure. It is a nice coral shade that leans red but I only wore it as a stain and it worked like a charm. I like a little color on my lips but then through the day I would use lip balm to moisturize and pamper my dry lips. 

The very last item is Avon Glow bronzing pearls in Warm Coral. I was so excited when I bought them even though they look more orange than coral or peach on me. I like the whole pearl concept but the other day I wanted to use them and I discovered mold on them!!! Oh my, what have I done? When you open the cap there is a white sponge covering the pearls so they don't get crushed if you shake them in transport, I don't carry them around, they just sit on my shelf but I still felt the need to keep the soft cushion and even wash it from time to time and apparently once it didn't completely dry hence the mold all over the pearls. Lesson learnt, I tossed sponges on two other compacts so that won't happen again.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Project Polish

Hello,

this time around I haven't used up any nail polishes but I decided to pass these two bottles because they don't suit me and someone else could appreciate them more.

First is super old Essence nail art special effect topper in Mystic Mermaid. It is a shimmery top coat consisting mostly of silver shimmer but it reflect purple, green and blue. A real eye catcher but I just don't enjoy wearing it anymore. There is still more than half a bottle left and the polish inside is still very liquid so it is usable.

The other bottle was introduced not long time ago and it is Catrice ICONail Mermayday Mayday (complete coincidence on the mermaid theme but the colors couldn't be any different, do you agree?). I already mentioned that it applies like a butter, one coat is almost enough for full coverage but it is the color that it doesn't suit me. Both bottles will get new homes and I just got rid of two more nail varnishes and that completes the 20 bottles that are already away from my collection in this year. I'm planing to go through two or four more and then I will see and decided what to do next.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Cool & Matt

Hello,

days over here are still pretty hot and if you are struggling with oily skin then you know what that means. In the morning it takes me some time to properly prep and prime my skin to be in tip top shape for what's to come. I'm still on the hunt for that 'perfect' primer that would do anything so I was super excited when I saw this baby in one of the most recent Catrice limited editions. I was one of the first people to discover that stand because everything was still there (isn't this view rare, to see the whole stand untouched and you are the first person who dips their fingers into samples?).

Catrice Travelight Story had some interesting products but my interest was pointed into this cool & matt primer stick in Transparent.

To give you an idea how small it is I measured it against my thumb which is pretty much the same length, the whole packaging not just the actual product.
It comes in a white sturdy plastic which closes very firmly and there is no way that it would accidentally opened in your bag. If your skin is perfect you can wear it on its own but mine isn't so I put make-up on top. At first it felt a bit weird to use it directly on my face (all of my previous primers are liquid) but after two or three uses I got used to it. Immediately after applying it it starts to feel cool and almost dewy but it dries into matte finish after I would say approximately 30 sec. It creates smooth and matte canvas for make-up.

Through the day my make-up lasted really well. I still got oily, less then if I wouldn't use it, but my BB cream didn't started to crack or looked like a mask.
There is no scent present just a nice cooling feeling but it goes away after a minute or two.
This primer isn't 'the one' but it gets close, I feel like I'm gonna like it even more as soon as the weather gets cooler because my skin gets less oily. You get a very small portion of the product and I think that it won't last for long and when it will be gone I can only hope that Catrice will bring it back. I would definitely repurchase it again and again.




Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Mermayday Mayday

Hello,

my last manicure shown was pink, very happy and cheerful. I decided to switch things up by choosing one of the 'new' polishes in more calm and relaxed color, at least that is what I thought of it when I saw it in the bottle.

It is Catrice ICONails nail varnish in the Mermayday Mayday shade. It has a cream finish and great opacity with just one coat. I still did two, to even everything out and just because I'm used to it.

The shade is very unique in my collection and I was excited to see how much I will like it on myself. I used it on my nails and toes and my verdict is that it somehow clashes with my skin tone. It looks okay on the photos but my fingers looked red opposed to this cool toned shade and I didn't approved that. The wear time was average, after two or three days some tip wear  started to show which is quite normal (I type a lot at work and I noticed that I often use nails to do it and that takes toll on my nail polish) but I have to admit that the one I wore previously from the Soft Blossom range lasted longer and better and if I'm not mistaken the price point is similar if not the same but within the ICONails range there are 45 shades when there are only 4 scented options left.

All in all I like this range of nail polishes from Catrice but I have some that lasts longer on my nails and are cheaper (most of my Essence varnishes), the shade was a fail for me but that is just my personal taste and I hope my sister will like it better because I'm planing to give it to her.





Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Frozen Toffee and Patina Glow

Hello,

I'm back with some lid glow. I have been avoiding these shadows for way too long. I liked how they looked on swatches but knowing just how many similar colors I have I managed to resist buying them for way too long. I know that now after finally owning two shades.

Essence the metals is a range of super shimmery/metallic single eye shadows and I have Frozen Toffee and Patina Glow.

Neutral brown with silver shimmer through is Frozen Toffee and that lack of warmth is making it unique in my collection. I really couldn't find anything similar.
The olive green one is called Patina Glow and the golden shimmer is stunning in it. I usually stay away from 'colors' on my lids because my eyes are already two toned and I have a feeling that they just can't handle more shades at once (various shades of brown and gold are excluded, I love them and I can make them work, anything else can look too colorful) but I have a soft spot for green but rarely wear it. This one though is very nice and looks gorgeous and whenever I wear it I don't feel self conscious, I feel great and has become my favorite green shade.

I can pack them on and the base colors are very strong (brown and green) or I can lightly dab  them in the center of my lid to bring some extra light. I love how versatile they are.

Here you can see the glow better and I feel like it is even more obvious on the lid.
They both apply like butter and don't have fallout. To me they are some of the best shadows in my collection and the only regret from my side is that I didn't get them sooner.





Thank you for reading and have a nice day

From Dusk Till Dawn

Hello,

it has been a while since Catrice team gifted me this duo and I have been testing it and using it in different ways. It sure does look lovely when it is brand new because of the embossing but make-up items are supposed to be used not kept on the pedestal. Well, that is just my humble opinion, what is yours?

It is Catrice Travelight Story LE From Dusk Till Dawn blush & bronzer duo.

As mentioned the embossing on it is very pretty but it is pressed quite deep in the pan because I received it towards the end of June and I have been using it quite a lot and the print is still very visible. If you flip the palette the back side is mirrored, it is not a perfect mirror but it can get useful on the road (to check if there is food between your teeth or if the lipstick has smeared all over your chin...).

Both colors are very pigmented, maybe the blush is a tad more so if you are among pale people you should be careful and try to apply little by little to avoid clown cheeks.

Bronzer has golden undertone and it is quite warm but not too orangey to look unnatural. It contains little golden specks that add some dimension and I like that a lot. Matte cheek products just aren't for me.
Blush has that beautiful bright vibrancy to it. Warm coral shade is unique in my blush collection (the last time I counted and almost fainted, I discovered that I own 30 blushes!!!). It doesn't have the same glow-shimmer as the bronzer does but at the same time it is not a flat or chalky matte. I have to be really careful not to apply to much and when I succeed it looks very fresh and healthy on my skin but usually I would add some highlighter on top to make it extra glowy ;)

I think that this duo was a visual highlight from this collection and after trying and using it for over one month I can say that the quality and color combo really works. I even started to use them as an eye shadows, bronzer offers great warm base and a little pop of coral in the center of the lid elevates every brown shadow to the next level. They are not my absolute favorites but both are very high on my list. All in all I am very happy with this product and I know I will use it also in the cooler months to bring some of the Summer memories back.






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