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Friday 2 February 2024

December 2023/January 2024 Empties


 
Here are my latest empties with some mini reviews included. 

Shiseido Facial Cotton - Another one done! Already repurchased. My favourite cotton pads, period. As a side note, I swear these used to be $11 and now they are $17.50 Canadian! Talk about inflation! I do my best to only buy them on sale.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - What was left in this tube was hardened so I am throwing it out. Already well on my way through another tube. This is the only eyeshadow primer that I trust these days. 

Beautyblender - I keep trying other sponges to save a buck but the original Beautyblender is still the best. Already repurchased.  

Nivea Pure & Natural Body Lotion in Organic Oat (refill) - I love the fact that I can now buy these in a refill format. I believe I have already repurchased two more refills. Best drugstore lotion in my opinion. If anyone has a better suggestion for body cream from the drug store, please let me know.  

Grown Alchemist Body Cream in Mandarin, Rosemary Leaf - I got this in a subscription box and at first I quite liked it. So much so that when I had the opportunity to buy another one on sale for around $8, I pounced. As time has passed I don't find this to be as good as I thought it was. I will use up the other tube for sure but will not be repurchasing as I have gotten sick of the smell and it doesn't moisturize as much as I would like. 

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo - I've lost count of how many of these I have finished. I feel like a may take a break from this shampoo for a bit a try a few others plus use up some shampoo I have in my cupboards. I will definitely repurchase though. May wait for the next Sephora sale in the spring. 

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat Protectant Leave In Conditioner Primer - This product is all that. It's a heat protector, detangler and leave in conditioner. I will never be without it. Already repurchased.  

Christophe Robin No Frizz Care x Style Leave-In Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk - I got this in a subscription box and loved it. It tamed my frizzies and gave me some volume. I have been checking online for ages to see if I could buy another one. Sephora has stopped carrying this brand and the product's website didn't seem to carry it any longer. I checked this morning and see that it now says "coming soon" on Christophe Robin's website and the price is $51 Canadian. Wow! That's a lot of money for 150ml/5 fl. oz. of product. The product was good, but not that good! Doesn't look like I will be repurchasing unless I can get it significantly on sale. 

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! - This was an ok mascara in terms of the results it gives, but it wasn't anything extraordinary. Gave both length and volume but not as much as other mascaras I have tried. I found this this mascara was the most likely to smear onto my contacts too which was highly annoying and inconvenient. Will not repurchase. 

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish in Medium - There are days when I am not convinced this this under eye corrector is good enough for my very dark circles. When I switch to another brand, I find I definitely look worse. So I have repucrhased. This product lasted me for ages. Well over a year and I would say it was worth the money. The packaging is sleek and great for travel. Already repurcased. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair - Whenever I used to use this, I noticed an improvement in my skin right away, as in the next morning! I lived on gwp samples of this for literally years. I finally took the plunge and bought a regular sized bottle and spent the money. Unfortuately for me, soon after I bought this, my rosacea got really bad. I have it semi under control these days but it is still a daily struggle. Because my skin needs have changed, I am not noticing any difference to my skin when I use this product now and I am not even sure my skin likes it any longer. I used it up by putting it on my forehead mostly each night as I do not have any rosacea in that area. Given how pricey it is, I will not be repurchasing unless the day comes when my rosacea disappears. Only then will I likely give it another shot. 

The INKEY List Super Solutions 10% Azelaic Acid Serum - I bought this as I had read it is good for treating rosacea. It is! I did notice very soon after starting to use it that it was helping. I was only using it at night originally. I later clued in that you can layer this with other serums. As a result, I started using it morning and night and the difference was fantastic. Already repurchased. This may become a holy grail I cannot live without. 

Beautyblender Blendercleanser Solid - Used up another. I really like the way this cleans my brushes and it smells so nice. I grab a free mini one every chance I get when Sephora is offering them as a reward or sample. Already repurchased. 

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask - I keep finding minis of these I have hidden all over the house. So sad they don't make this anymore. This was the original formula. Wish I would have bought a lifetime supply when I had the chance. 

Clarins Lip Comfort Hydrating Oil in Honey - I got a set of 4 of these around Christmas. I have only finished the Honey one so far. These are very much mini sized. I finished this one in maybe 2 weeks using it infrequently. I have not decided as yet how I feel about this product as I barely used it and it was done. I will have to use another one or two of them before I can form an opinion. 

Skinfix Barrier + Triple Lipid + Collagen + Niacinamide Activating Serum - Another refill done! Already repurchased. This is great for keeping my face hydrated and reducing redness.

Skinfix Barrier + Triple Lipid + Collagen Eye Treatment - This product is $73 Canadian. That's a lot of a money for an ok eye cream. For that kind of money, I expect to see some results. I found this eye cream to be very basic. It moisturized and did 0 for my dark circles. I can easily find hundreds of eye creams for far less money that are just as good. This eye cream is apparently recommended by dermotolgists. I am assuming it is for the non-irritating properties but otherwise I have no idea why. Maybe better ingredients? Kudos to Skinfix for putting it in a glass jar though! Will not repurchase but would take it if it's in a set of Skinfix products for a good price.

So that's it for now! Happy Ground Hog Day!

Tuesday 12 December 2023

Summer/Fall 2023 Empties and Trash


 Lots of empties to cover today! Let the summary reviews begin! 


it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream in Light - Another full size and a mini are done! Already repurchased. This helps cover my redness and the SPF is handy.  

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Conditioner - Apparently, I went through a lot of conditioner the last few months. I finished two full sized tubes and a travel sized one. The best conditioner I have found for my hair. Already repurchased. 

Colorpop Super Shock Shadow in Tea Party - This is not an empty per se. What is left is all dry and crumbly - can't be used. This was a lovely colour but it was a dry product from the get go and it flaked a lot. I have other colours but this was my most used one. 

KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Waterproof Liquid Liner in Trooper Black - This is my second to favourite black liquid liner ever behind Stila's version. I also have it in the colour Mad Max Brown and it is equally wonderful. Would repurchase for sure. This was a travel sized pen. I had two of these going at the same time, I finished the other one in my last empties post. 

Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Refillable Deodorant Cheirosa '62 - This was a refill that I used up. Already repurchased. I really like this deodorant. It works for me and leaves my skin soft.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Mint Choco (Mini) - Really liked this scent. It was a mini from a holiday set last year. Handy for around the house or travel.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Peach Iced Tea - Love, love, love this. This is my favourite scent ever. I bought another one soon after this one as it was limited edition. I really hope they bring it back one day.

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil (travel size) - This is a fantastic product and I have no idea why no one talks about it. I have already repurchased my second full sized bottle. It also mixes great with any serum of your choice and adds lots of moisture and glow to your skin.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive (travel size) - This is also a fabulous product that works well with other serums and really gives a decent amount of hydration. I have already repurchased the full sized version and I believe I have gone through at least a couple of these.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day - Another one done. Already repurchased x2. Great stuff if you are looking for smooth hair with volume.

Shiseido Facial Cotton (x2) - Nothing else compares. I'm sad the price keeps increasing. I try to get it on sale. Already repurchased x2.

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser (travel size) - Ever since my rosacea got wild, this is one of the only cleaners that doesn't make it angry. I'd love to give my skin a good scrub but can't so for now I use this and try to be content. Very mild, perfect for sensitive or angry skin. 

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation in 22N Light Neutral  - I actually really liked this foundation but sadly it appears to be discontinued. I have always struggled to find foundation shades from Tarte that worked for me and this colour did. The formula was watery, but the coverage was decent and it gave me a nice glow. It went on smoothly. The packing and dropper were utter crap though, the product went everywhere. Horrible packaging. I would repurchase, but I can't. 

Klorane Floral Water Make-Up Remover - Love this. There is no substitute. Will always buy this until it is no longer available.  

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (Refill) -  I love this cream. It has been so good to use with my rosacea. My skin loves it. I don't care what anyone says about how expensive it is and that the ingredients are not all that. I have tried lots of other expensive and cheap skin creams and none of them hold a candle to this one. Already repurchased. 

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm - Like most of my Bite Beauty products that are left (they are all from before the company was sold) I have been hanging on to them for dear life because I know this is all I will ever have of their good stuff. This product I was willing to use up as it wasn't very good. Didn't much for my lips except give them a waxy film. This was nothing like their Lip Mask which was my holy grail. Wouldn't repurchase but couldn't anyway if I wanted to. 

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask (in some berry colour) - So sad this product is gone. I saved the last drop for ages and I recently decided it was time to use it up and throw it out. 

Schmidt's Charcoal + Magnesium Mineral Enriched Natural Deodorant - (trash, not an empty) This gave me a wicked rash. At first, I thought it may have been coincedence but I waited awhile, tried again and it was rash city. A friend of mine also bought one of these deodorants and she had the same thing happen to her. No way would I repurchase.

Native Deodorant in Sugar Cookie (mini size) - (trash, not an empty) My friend bought a couple of these minis for me because she really likes this product. I appear to be allergic to it as it gave me a terrible, painful reaction that took weeks to go away. It was awful. It's hard to believe a deordant could cause such havoc in my arm pits.

Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream - This product was ok. It was a sample size. This one was Light Medium but was a tad too dark for me. It's watery and light weight and I would say light to medium coverage. The coverage could have been a bit better for my liking but I understand it is only a BB cream so I need to temper my expectations. Not sure I would repurhase.

Aveda Invati Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo - This was a mini sized product I got as a free pomo. There wasn't enough product to see if it actually worked so I don't feel I can accurately rate this.

Fenty Beauty Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner in Cuz I'm Black - I got this awhile back in a Sephora Favourites set and didn't open it for ages. It was a travel/mini size. I was pleasantly surprised by this eyeliner. I would argue it is my 3rd to faourite liquid eyeliner ever. I would consider repurchasing this. Not sure why no one seems to talk about this product, it's really good!

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream - This was a travel or mini sized tube. I have used this product on and off for years and overall I think this line works well for me especially in the summer months. In winter, it isn't always moisturizing enough. I would recommend this for sensitive skin. Since I have rosacea, I usually need something a bit more catered to that condition unless my skin is in good shape. I would repurchase this and I already have a larger size of this I am using here and there.

Pat McGrath Mini Lust: Gloss in Love Potion - Someone please tell me why there is so much hype with these glosses? I do not enjoy them! I find they wear off easily and they have next to zero pigment. These Pat McGrath glosses can't hold a candle to the ones Fenty, NARS, MAC and GXVE makes. This was part of a set of 3 that I purchased awhile back. I believe I have one left to use and I don't have high hopes. Would not repurchase.

BareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation - I think this product may be discontinued and I am not surprised in the least. This is a horrible watery foundation with precious little coverage. This was a sample that I got a few uses out of it. Would not repurchase even if I could.

Lanolips 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm - If you have dry lips or bits (oops that didn't sound good) look no further than this product. If I had to have a complaint, it would be that the product is too thick and works almost too well! I bought this as a replacement for my Bite Agave Lip Mask that was discontinued. They were not the same product at all, but this sure did work on my dry lips. I have already repurchased this but I really only use it at home as I find it is too much as a base before lip products if I am going out.

Tarte Sea Wink of H2O Vegan Collagen Eye Cream - This was a sample and I did not like it. It was not very moisturizing at did nothing for my dark circles. Would not repurchase.

Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara (travel size) - This was one of my favourite mascaras for ages. It added volume and length and didn't flake or smudge much. I would consider repurchasing this but at the moment I have 3 other mascaras that are working wonders on my lashes.

Clinique High Impact Mascara (travel size) - This is an ok mascara. Better than drug store but not top tier at all. Would not repurchase.

Belif The True Cream - Moisturizing Bomb (sample size) - I cannot stress how badly my face reacted to this product. There must be something in it that I am allergic to. It gave me a wicked breakout/rash. I used the remainder of it on my legs (haha) and had no reaction there. Wouldn't dream of ever purchasing this. I have read online about others having a similar reaction so at least I know it wasn't only me.

Make Up For Ever Ulta HD Foundation in Y252  - I got a sample of this ages ago and I thought initially it looked good. So much so that I bought a full sized one but this colour proved to be too light and too yellow. One thing that drives me mad about MUFE is how almost everything is set up to lean pink or yellow. They have very few neutral shades which is what I and many others need. I decided to buy another bottle in a more pink leaning shade and mix them together. I wish I hadn't. Mixing them did work somewhat, but it was a hassle. The coverage and glow wasn't the same as the sample I once received. I found the foundation very drying on my skin as time went on. I used this mostly for work video calls since no one was seeing it up close. I'm very glad I have finished this bottle now. Would not repurchase.

Origins Plantscription Multi-Powered Youth Serum - I used this product for years and found it worked well. As time has gone on, I need something more high powered now so sadly this was my last bottle. I would recommed this through if you are in your 20s or 30s and are starting to notice the signs of aging.

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Eye Cream (travel size) - Sadly, this did nothing for me. Wasn't overly moisturizing and didn't budge my dark circles. Will not repurchase.

Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel - I had to be careful with this product because if I got it too close to my eyes, it stung and burned. I had to make sure it absorbed before I laid down and went to bed or it would creep into my eyes. There wasn't enough product in here to say if it worked or not but I wouldn't buy it again because it was a fussy product in general.

Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Refill Face Cream - I am not sure how many jars of this I have gone through but this is one of the few skin creams that helps my rosacea. Already repurchased.

Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser - This product was ok. Nothing to get excited about. It worked well when my rosacea was out of control as a calmer but other than that, it did little else. There are other cleansers on the market that work just as well for less money like CeraVe.

Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum - Love this serum. It's excellent for rosacea. Already repurchased x 2. Don't wish to be withhout it. The refill is a much better deal.

So that's it! I already have several empties for the month of December so I may do one more empties post this month.

Thursday 9 November 2023

Winter 2022/Spring 2023 Empties


Let's dive into it! 

Nivea Pure & Natural Body Lotion (x2) - Best drugstore body lotion on the market as far as I am concerned. Note I said drugstore haha. 

KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Waterproof Liquid Liner in Trooper Black - This is my second to favourite black liquid liner ever behind Stila's version. I also have it in the colour Mad Max Brown and it is equally wonderful. Would repurchase for sure. 

Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Plumping Lash Primer - This isn't a bad product and I would repurchase but I don't feel it lives up to it's hype. It can help a so so or crappy mascara be better. If you have an amazing mascara though, not sure this helps a lot and it is an extra step. This was a travel sized tube and the wand broke off completely very soon after I started using it. Was not impressed with that. 

LYS Triple Fix Serum Foundation in MN1 - I have a lot of mixed feelings about this foundation. Let's start with the good - the colour match was good for me, the price was very reasonable and budget friendly, it was moisturizing and I received a lot of compliments when I wore it that my skin was glowing. It was also good for airplane travel in that my skin didn't look as dry as it would after a flight versus if I wore another foundation. So the bad...coverage was light and not overly buildable. It bothered me that I could never seem to cover my blemishes or rosacea with this and that was very irksome. I have seen other people online complain about the same thing. I also felt like the product sat on my skin. If I touched my face it would easily come off on my hand. These last two reasons alone are why I likely will not repurchase unless they reformulate the product. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess - This has been my favourite bronzer for years. Already repurchased. No idea why it doesn't get enough attention. I have been super into bronzers the last year and I have bought a number of different brands which I am really enjoying. The day may come when this Tarte one takes a back seat to others but we will see and I will keep you posted. 

First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Eye Cream - This was moisturizing I suppose, but this product was a big let down for me. I didn't feel it really did anything for me and certainly did not help my dark undereye circles. I believe this product has been discontinued. Cannot and would not repurchase anyway. 

Gilchrist & Soames English Spa Shampoo - This is a very good shampoo. I really enjoyed it and it was moisturizing. I would consider buying it again but I have to order it online and it's a bit of a hassle so not sure I will. There are other equally good shampoos that I am using presently. 

Klorane Floral Water Make-Up Remover - Love this. There is no substitute. Will always buy this until it is no longer available.  

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (One Jar plus a Refill) - I cannot wax poetic enough about how much I love this cream. It has been so good to use with my rosacea. My skin loves it. I don't care what anyone says about how expensive it is and that the ingredients are not all that. I have tried lots of other expensive and cheap skin creams and none of them hold a candle to this one. Already repurchased. 

Londontown Foot Balm - This foot balm worked really well. One of the best I have used. I will not, however, repurchase. That is because the smell is so off putting to me, I could barely stand it. I cannot stand the smell of eucalyptus and this product reeks of it. I would repurchase if they ever change the scent. 

Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Conditioner  - This literally did nothing for my hair and in fact, tangled the heck out of it. I did not find it to be moisturizing at all. Will not repurchase. 

it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream in Light - Another one done! Already repurchased. This helps cover my redness and I need the SPF these days. Keeps me looking and feeling dewy. Covers all my redness. Love. 

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Peach - My lips get so dry and uncomfortable in winter. Peach is my favourite flavour in this line. I need something constantly to put on them and lots of it. These balms are not my holy grail but they work well enough to get me through the day so I keep buying them. Nothing will ever replace the old Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. 

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla - I personally like Laneige lip products, but I don't love them. To me they are better than the alternatives. After Bite Beauty broke my heart and reformulated Agave Lip Mask and then basically went out of business for the most part, my search to find a replacement has been on. This search has not be overly fruitful. I have tried some really bad stuff. Some were things people rave about online. For now, this is as good as I can find and at least they smell nice and work even if it is for a short period of time. 

skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid-Hyaluronate Serum (×2 Full Size and Travel Size) - I bought this to help my skin barrier because it was wrecked from my roseacea. I did find that it helped quite a bit and I have already repurchased this. I don't feel that it does anything else for me except help with my skin barrier and I don't think it really claims to anything else. At this price point though, $67 Canadian, I think I can do better. The face cream from skinfix does basically the same thing. I did like this serum under my Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. If the other products I have to try don't work I will come back to this strictly for facial survival. skinfix has also come out with a new serum and I have a couple of samples so I will be checking that out very shortly. 

skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid 360 degree Eye - This was mositurizing but didn't do a damn thing for my undereye circles. The brand has a new eye cream which is supposed to work better so I will give that a try. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara - This is one of the few mascaras that never smudge on me. I have found a cheaper replacement though which I will be discussing in my next empties post. I would repurchase this though if needs be. 

Clinique Quickliner for Lips in 29 Sky Violet - I loved this lip liner and I had it forever. The colour was somewhat unique. Looks like the colour has been discontinued so can't repurchase unfortunately. 

EOS lip balm - No idea what scent this one is. Out it goes. I keep finidng them around the house. I think my cat likes to hide them. In case you haven't read any of my previous posts, I had a bad allergic reacction to these. 

Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Refillable Deodorant Cheirosa '62 - I really like this deodorant. Not sure how much I love the smell, but it is ok and the deodorant works well all around. I wouldn't say it lasts for 24 hours but it's good for a solid 18. Good enough for me. Already repurchased the same scent.

L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara - I am not sure if I got a faulty tube but this was all dried out when I opened it. I had the tube for a while in the packaging before I opened it so I couldn't return it. I am tempted to repurchase to see if the great reviews are true but also I am concerned I will get another dried out tube. Please leave me a comment below if you have had the same experience. I guess this isn't an empty per se but there was nothing in the tube to use. 

Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara - This was trash. This mascara is why I hate drugstore mascara. Horrible, did nothing at all. I am throwing this out basically unused so not really an "empty". 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - I've tried a gazillion eyeshadow primers over the years and this one works best. I am not even interested in trying any others these days. 

skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream - This was the first of a few I have gone through in recent months. This has really helped my rosacea be manageable. I mostly use it at night but sometimes during the day if I was to conserve my CT Magic Cream. The refill is the better deal so I have started buying those. Very good product if you are having skin barrier issues. 

I will try to have my Summer/Fall 2023 empties up within the next couple of weeks! 


Friday 17 March 2023

Summer/Fall 2022 Empties


A long awaited empties post finally! I have been working on this one for longer than I care to mention. I have a pile of Winter empties piling up so this one can't wait much longer. Let's jump right into it! 

Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream -  I purchased this when my roseacea started getting quite bad. It offerred some temporary relief but overall I didn't feel like it did as much as it should have. I have since found much better products that help me more than this. I did purchase another one of these jars though before I discovered other things so at some point I may try to use that up. 

Make Up For Ever Ulta HD Foundation - I got a sample of this ages ago and I thought initially it looked good. So much so that I bought a full sized one but in another shade as the sample I had was a tad too dark and too yellow. Sadly, the one I bought was too light and still too yellow. So I bought this one - R330. It's too dark and too red. I have given up with Make Up For Ever complexion products. I know they now have some more neutral shades now, but there weren't many when I bought these two bottles. Regardless of my beef with their shade range leaning too yellow or too pink, I don't care for this product for other reasons as it turns out. I find the luminosity fades quickly and it gets dry on my face and sometimes uncomfortable. I would not recommend this for dry skin. I used this foundation mostly for Zoom and Teams meetings over the course of the pandemic to use it up. Also, that way, I didn't have to wear it for long. I still am working on my other bottle, a lighter, more yellow shade and am and using it for the same purpose. 

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Deep Dive Cleansing Gel - I believe this product has been discontinued and for good reason. It doesn't clean your face at all and it leaves a horrible, sticky film that lasts for hours. I felt dirtier after washing my face with this than before I washed my face. The bottle is only 50ml but this product lasted me forever. Very liquidy. I always had to wash my face with something else after using this. It barely took off any makeup either. Not sure why it became a mission for me to finish it, but I did. Never again. 

it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream in Light - I have gone through a few of these in various sizes over the years. I didn't like it at first. I thought it was thick and dry looking and tricky to apply. Also, all of the shades are so yellow. I have come to love this product though the last couple of years. If you use a really good moisturizer underneath it and a very wet beaurty blender, it can look positively glowy. I like the fact that it has SPF protection as this is my go to if I will be out in the sun. I've even found that the "yellowness" fades after it has been blended in. With my rosecea that has developed in recent years, this is one of the few foundations that seems to neutralize the redness and cover it. I am almost done with my full sized tube of this as well and will definitely be repurchasing. 

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Berry and Peach - My lips get so dry and uncomfortable in winter. I need something constantly to put on them and lots of it. These balms are not my holy grail but they work well enough to get me through the day so I keep buying them. Nothing will ever replace the old Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. So sad that love story between that product and I had to die. Maybe someone will one day resurrect the brand or at least that product and restore it to it's former glory. 

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask  in Gummy Bear and Mango - I see a lot of hate online for this product. Yet, good luck getting your hands on it at Christmas time in Sephora. I personally like it. I don't love it, I have issues with it not being as good as it should be, but to me it is better than the alternatives. After Bite Beauty broke my heart and reformulated Agave Lip Mask and then basically went out of business for the most part, my search to find a replacement has been on. This search has not be overly fruitful. I have tried some really bad stuff. Some were things people rave about online. For now, this is as good as I can find and at least they smell nice and work even if it is for a short period of time. Gummy Bear is my least favourite scent/flavour from the line as a side note. 

skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid-Hyaluronate Serum - I bought this to help my skin barrier because it was wrecked from my roseacea. I did find that it helped quite a bit and I have already repurchased this. I don't feel that it does anything else for me except help with my skin barrier and I don't think it really claims to anything else. At this price point though, $67 Canadian, I think I can do better. The face cream from skinfix does basically the same thing. I did like this serum under my Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. If the other products I have to try don't work I will come back to this strictly for facial survival. skinfix has also come out with a new serum and I have a couple of samples so I will be checking that out very shortly. 

Origins Eye Doctor x 2 - That's right. I have gone through two of these. I must confess that I had very little left of one jar and was using other things for ages that underwhelmed me so I finished the jar and bought another. I no longer feel that this product is doing much for my dark circles. It is so comfortable and non-irritating though. You put it on and your skin sighs. I still don't have crow's feet so maybe it works well in terms of anti-aging, although I think genetics may be at play there. My mother still doesn't have crow's feet! I have a few other eye creams I am testing out and so far nothing is working well but I will keep you informed. 

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara - I have received countless samples of these over the years in gwp bags and frankly, they are terrible. I used this once or twice as it was lying around when I was in a rush, but it's near useless on my short, sparse eyelashes. It's all dried out now so out it goes. Good riddance. 

Drunk Elephant Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream - This smelled like marzipan. Delicious. It worked well enough for me but I am not sure if this would withstand a full workout. It's a very wet product and it doesn't dry down much which would turn some people off and frankly it turned me off sometimes. I would consider repurchasing this but I think I have found something that works even better - my Sol de Janeiro deordorant.  

Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Refillable Deodorant Cheirosa '62 - I really like this deodorant. Not sure how much I love the smell, but it is ok and the deodorant works well all around. I wouldn't say it lasts for 24 hours but it's good for a solid 18. Good enough for me. There is another scent so I am going to give that a try. Already repurchased the same scent as that is all I could get and that is ok.

Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara - This must have been the third tube that I have had of this at least. I believe I only paid for one them and the rest were travel sized free tubes. It simply doesn't work for me. The wand is massive and my lashes are so short and sparse all I can get out of this mascara is smudges and zero volume and zero length. It must work for some people since it has been on the market for years but it is a pass for me. 

Marc Jacobs Fineliner Ultra-Skinny Gel Eye Crayon in Blacquer - I am constantly sighing as I type this. Marc Jacobs Beauty is no more and that is so sad. They had some solid products. This was one of them. Unfortunately, I bought this eyeliner from Sephora when Marc Jacobs was going out of business and when I opened this, the liner was completely dried out and it crumbled all my hands and pants. I was horrified. What was more horrifying was that for some reason I didn't return it. I have no idea why! I think I was busy at the time, I had ordered it online and then it slipped my mind. It was also on clearance so it didn't cost much. I still regret not returning it on principle alone. I noticed at the time that a lot of people were complaining online about the same thing. Must have been old stock leftover that we got. 

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil - This face oil is fantastic! Already repurchased. I know this and other Drunk Elephant products have been getting dragged lately for being overpriced and doing less than expected but before I got roseacea my skin never looked better than when I was exclusively using Drunk Elephant products. My skin glowed and I had been plagued with bad skin most of my life until then. Sadly, with the roseacea now, I can no longer use some Drunk Elephant products as my needs are different. I can still use this facial oil though and it is so moisturizing and feels heavenly. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - I've tried a gazillion eyeshadow primers over the years and this one works best. I am not even interested in trying any others these days. When this product first came out I think it had parabens but Urban Decay got rid of them in there awhile back so I'm happy about that and have been a fan since. I've already repurchased 3 of these! Two are almost done and will likely be in my next empties. 

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation in 5 Cool - I also had this in 5 Neutral but I gave it away as it was too yellow for me. I find in general this line runs yellow. Even the 5 Cool was a bit yellow and I have neutral undertones. This foundation is very much full coverage and that is what I liked about it. However, I will not be repurchasing it as it was a bit thick even when sheered out and it lacked the glowy finish I was looking for. It comes in a glass bottle which is always a plus. 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer - This was a travel sized container. I didn't notice that it did anything for me. Since my skin is sensitive these days, I only put it on my non-sensitive areas like my forehead, nose and chin and it seemed drying. Maybe it would work better for someone with oily skin. Will not repurchase. 

A La Maison Sweet Almond Hand & Body Lotion - I bought this at Winners I believe. Smelt ok. Felt a bit powdery. Moisturized ok. There are better and cheaper alternatives on the market. This company's hand soap is far better than their lotion. 

L'Occitane en Provence Shea Butter Foot Cream and Intensive Foot Balm - So two products here. I decided to try the Intensive Foot Balm since I liked the foot cream so much. I didn't care for the Intensive version and found it less moisturizing than the regular foot cream. Considering the Intensive Foot Balm costs $10 more ($47!) it will definitely not be a repurchase. Sticking to the one I love - Shea Butter Foot Cream it is! Already repurchased that one. 

Pat McGrath Labs LUST: Lip Gloss in Sunset Rose - Pat McGrath makes the most glorious eyeshadow ever, bar none. I love her eyeshadow and have now puchased a number of palettes. Words cannot express how stunning they are. Then there is this lip gloss. I hated it. This was a mini sized tube that I got in a set of 3. I have since tried a second one from the set and it is awful too. Pat really needs to go back to the drawing board on this one. The two glosses I have tried have almost 0 pigment transfer onto my lips. It's like they are clear glosses. This is not an issue I have ever had in my life with any lip gloss by any other brand including drug store ones. It's a bit mind boggling and disturbing. The smell is ok, vanilla I would say. The gloss feels ok on but it disappears sometimes in 20 minutes. You could probably go through a full sized tube if you used it daily and reapplied as needed in well under a month. I will use up the second and third mini tubes I have but I can't see me ever buying a Pat McGrath gloss again unless she reformulates. 

Bb Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer - This is one of those products that I have wondered where it has been all of my life. It's a detangler, leave in conditioner and heat protector all in one. I have spent so much money over the years on detanglers that didn't work or paled in comparison to this product. It's simply the best. Already repurchase a full size and I have two travel sizes on hand. 

Kopari Aluminium Free Coconut Deodorant - I just looked at Sephora's website and it appears they have stopped carrying Kopari??? Wow. That is a shame. As for this deodorant though, I was not impressed. I don't love the smell of coconut and this was coconut overload. The product was very wet and did not dry down much. Also, I found it wore off after a few hours and was no longer working well. I can't imagine how badly it would have performed if I was hiking or working out. Will not repurchase.   

So that's it and that is an awful lot! Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! 

Sunday 25 September 2022

Empties 2021/2022 Part 2

 


EOS lip balms (x4) - No idea what scent these are. None of them are finished but I had a reaction to these like so many other people. I keep finding them around the house but I think I've finally rounded them all up. So excited to see them go! I know they aren't finished but I am so done with them it isn't funny so thought they were worth mentioning.

Evodia Australia Coconut & Lime Body Wash - I got this from Marshalls or Winners. It was pretty good and last me for ages. Loved the smell. Might not have been the most moisturizing body wash of all time, but it was alright. I haven't seen this brand sold anywhere else. 

COLAB Dry Shampoo in Rio (tropical) - COLAB dry shampoos were the first ones I had ever tried. I thought they were great and the scents are so nice. Recently, I tried another brand and that is better than COLAB. You probably know what brand I am talking about - Batiste.....review coming soon. This is not a bad product though and I would buy it if I was in a pinch and couldn't get Batiste. 

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydraton Serum - I have boughy so many of these. It's a great, solid product. I haven't been using it lately as I have had to switch up my skin care routine due to my roseacea, but I am thinking I may try to incorporate this into my new routine and see if it works. I like to mix this serum with other serums to give myself a nice hydration boost. It mixes so well with other serums too, I can't recommend it enough. 

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser - (not pictured oops) This was either my second or third tube of this face wash. I decided I wanted something that cleansed better so I moved away from this and then I developed roseacea. Now this is one of the few cleansers I can use that doesn't anger my face. It is gentle and removes makeup. It's a glycerin based product. I have already repurchased two. 

Dior Diorshow Mascara - This was a sample or travel-sized mascara. I don't know if I got a bad one, but the product was very dry and I wasn't able to make it work. I have bought a full sized tube so we will see how that goes and I will report back. 

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil in Vanilla Apricot - I have had this tub of body cream forever. I loved it so much, and it was so pricey, that I made it last forever. I finally got a new one so I finished this one off. This is hands down my favourite body cream of all time. It's luxurious and works so well. I have never found anything that could compare, but if I do, I will let you know. 

Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water - This works, but you don't get much product for your buck. This is $19 Canadian for 100ml. The larger bottle is $37 for 240ml. Thankully, I bought mine during the last Sephora sale so at least I saved a couple of bucks. The product is like a runny cream and you need a fair amount if you are applying it to a cotton square or cotton ball. I probably used a good 1/20th or 1/15th of the bottle to take off my eye makeup once. I would happily use it again as it was effective and very gentle....if I got it at a marked down price or as a gift.  

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo - Another one done. Love this. 

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Conditioner - This is the perfect conditioner for my hair and I simply have not found anything better for me anyway. Not sure what number this is, but I have been through a few of these. 

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream - This is a fantastic face cream. I have been using it a bit less because my rosecea needs something that targets it and this cream isn't meant for that. I have already repurchased one as I am still using it here and there. If you have dry skin and want something seriously mositurizing that will give you a little glow, look no further than this. 

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Berry - this is what I have been using in place of my beloved Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. I have finished two tubes and have bought two more already. It isn't fantastic but it works and it is doing what I need for now. 

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask - It works. Doesn't blow me out of the water, but it works. Already purchased six of these.....what can I say, holiday sets of these are where it is at! 

Monday 11 April 2022

Empties 2021/2022 Part 1


 It's been eternity since I did an empties post and the crap is really piling up! Enough is enough. I have so much I need to break it into at least 3 parts. Let's get to it. 

Nivea Pure & Natural Body Milk - This is a staple in my empties posts. For quick hand cream or anywhere really Lotion, this is the best at the drug store as far as I am concerned in terms of quantity you get, decent quality and price point. Already repurchased like 3....

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion in Cooling Menthol - This is the best lotion from the Aveeno line in my opinion. I've even seen it heal burn marks super fast! The one in the tube is thicker and a bit better. Already repurchased.

Nivea MicellAir Micellar Water - So disappointing! Not good at all. Doesn't take off makeup well. Raccoon eyes the next morning even when you think you got it all.  Only bought this because when the pandemic hit I couldn't easily get my Klorane makeup remover easily anymore. Will never repurchase! 

EOS lip balm - No idea what scent this is. It's almost finished but I had a reaction to it like so many other people. I keep finding them around the house. They must go! 

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Gummy Bear - this is what I have been using in place of my beloved Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. I know Bite Beauty was sold and they changed all of the formulas. The reviews have been dreadful. Not sure I will ever try the new formulation. The Laneige product is not as good as the old Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask but I like it enough. I've had 5 different flavors/scents so far and I liked the Gummy Bear the least. Doesn't smell or taste like gummy bears at all! More like a fake grape smell. 

Origins Plantscription Serum x2 - I've used up two mini tubes. One of these actually lasts awhile. I've bought the big bottle which I am currently using. Used this for years. When I stop using it for awhile I feel like my laugh lines around my mouth look more pronounced. So I'm back at it using it full time. 

Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream - I used this for years and swore by it. I got bored, tried other things. I'm back to using it here and there as it seems to calm my rosacea a bit and its supposed to be good for that issue. 

IGK Hot Girls Hydrating Shampoo - This was a solid (by that I mean decent) shampoo. Smelt great and hydrating. Gives one hell of a lucious lather. I would consider repurchasing but at the moment I love my Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil shampoo too much to use anything else. 

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Conditioner - Speaking of Bumble and bumble, another tube of their conditioner bites the dust. This is the perfect conditioner for my hair and I simply have not found anything better for me anyway. 

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser - Ever since my rosacea got wild, this is one of the only cleaners that doesn't make it angry. I'd love to give my skin a good scrub but can't so for now I use this and try to be content. Very mild, perfect for sensitive or angry skin. 

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment - Another bottle done. Already repurchased two more. Nothing else compares to this in terms of prep for hot tools and styling. Hair shape lasts for days and you get really great volume. One of my holy grails. 

blendercleanser solid - I love this smell of this and it really gets the job on my brushes done. The Sephora version is comparable (doesn't smell as nice) when it was at a lower price point but now it's about the same so that's no good Sephora! I like the blendercleanser just a bit more, however, I hear Sephora has reformulated their version so we will wait and see. 

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream - Hands down one of my favourite moisturizers. Especially when mixed with DE's Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil. Already repurchased x2. 

Drunk ElephantVirgin Marula Luxury Face Oil - I can't seem to find a face oil as good as this one and I have tried a lot the last couple of years, a sample here, a sample there. This was a travel size. You will see in my Empties Part 2 post that I have also gone through a full sized one and I have repurchased it already...

That's it for now. Part 2 coming soon! 

Sunday 10 April 2022

Londontown Foot Balm - Mini Review



I got this on a whim from Fabfitfun. I can't recall what I paid for it but it was a very decent price. It's a very thick and rich cream and it does a pretty decent job of moisturizing dry feet. One of the better foot balms I've ever used. I will not repurchase this though for one reason - I can't stand the smell of it. The scent of eucalyptus is overpowering in this balm and it is the scent I dislike the most in the world. So if you like the smell of eucalyptus or don't mind it, this may be the foot balm for you.