September purchases..

   

L'Oreal Reconstruct Shampoo, Etude House Skin Malgeum Smoother/Toner, Nivea Whitening Body Cream & Milk, Aesop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel, Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Stick

Jurlique Chamomile Soothing Mist, Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol, Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser, Sukin Facial Scrub, Foaming Facial Cleanser, Facial Moisturiser , 2x Hydrating Mist Toner, Face of Australia Anti-Aging Stick Foundation

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, MOR Lychee Flower Body Lotion, Marshmallow Perfume Oil, Lychee Flower Body Cream, L'Oreal Elnett Satin Mini Hairspray, Batiste XXL volume Dry Shampoo (this product is AWESOME! I want to kick myself for not buying more!!)

CHANEL Le Vernis in Vertigo, Suspicious, Frenzy and Beige

CHANEL Le Vernis in Infidele, Provocation, Delicatesse, Rouge Allure Velvet in L'Infidele

CLARINS Aqua Essence Morning Energy, Lotus Face Treatment Oil, Whitening Starter Set

Boscia Clear Complexion kit *Google images*

Ole Henriksen 7 Skincare Sensations kit *Google images*

From 2 mists to 6 in a month..

Was that a lot? This month I've crossed out 4 items on the Makeup-Materialist and ended up with more than I expected. I've started on the Boscia set and a few other products but the majority of it has not been opened yet- am trying very hard to finish existing/older unopened products first!

My skin was not happy with the weather change when I got back from my first trip and my face turned very sensitive, red and was pain to the touch. I even broke out in tiny bumps near my ankles and on random spots on my body (later identified as mild eczema). Face mists really helped calm my face and I was using the Caudalie Grape Face Mist (review coming up in September empties) which really soothed the irritation. Since then, I have been on a rampage, getting my hands on mists from various "plant-based/natural" skincare brands. 

Am currently using the Boscia, which came in the Clear Complexion set pictured above, as well as the Sukin Hydrating Mist. Among the mists above, the Sukin one is the cheapest, I got mine for AUD9.95 at Priceline and so far so good. 

CHANEL polishes are one of my weaknesses as well, and it doesn't help that they have had so many beautiful colours in the past few collections.. but 7 in a month? I've really got to calm down. Everyone has a weakness right? Right?! Mine just happens to be face mists and Chanel polishes... 

... at the moment.

Empties: August 2012

Empties post for the month of August..

1. LIESE Hair Cocktail
A leave in moisturizing serum for your hair. It has a fizzy peach scent to it and you have to shake it to combine the two layers of liquid. It works okay, but then again my hair is usually in a pretty good condition. Repurchase? No, nothing awesome about it plus I have heaps of other hair products to finish. This bottle took me 2 years!!

2. MY BEAUTY DIARY Peach Soda Eye & Lip Makeup Remover
This is also a bi-phase makeup remover, so you have to shake it to mix the liquid. I use the Bobbi Brown eyeliner gel and it is very tough to remove, but this remover performed very well and did not cause irritation to my sensitive eyes. There is a light peach scent but nothing too strong. Repurchase? Not at the moment. I have others to finish up.

3. CAUDALIE Beauty Elixir
A face mist which contains essential oils. I love the scent and the slight tingly sensation but the mist dispenser is not as good as the Grape Water Face Mist from the same brand. Initially I did feel a difference on my skin but after a month, my skin felt the same with or without it. I also ran out of it fairly quickly (I was probably over-misting due to the dispenser). For the price, I expected it to do more for my face. Repurchase? No, I would prefer to use face oils and a separate face mist.

4. CLARINS Foaming Body Exfoliator
This was a trial sized product I received, and is definitely a keeper. It's a two-in-one which scrubs and cleans. The granules are fine but you can still feel them, it is a perfect my sensitive skin. It really did leave my skin much smoother and I like it that I don't have to use it separately from a body wash. Repurchase? Yes!

5. SHU UEMURA Deep Sea Hydrability Toner
Also a trial sized product, the toner from this range is supposed to hydrate the skin. It has a marine scent and leaves my skin a little tacky after use. I used this on-off for a few weeks as I suspected it broke my skin out everytime I used it. Perhaps it would be better for someone with dry/normal skin. Repurchase? No.

6. SEXY GIRL Body Mist (Baby Savon)
This body mist was purchased in Singapore about 2 years back together with the Liese Hair Cocktail. It smells like baby powder and is a body mist. I can't vouch for the moisturizing properties but it does leave me smelling fresh and clean. Repurchase? No. I have given up on body mists, only proper lotions/creams for me now.

7. SK-II Eye Treatment Film
One of the more affordable items from this brand- this eye film has a gel-like texture which is refreshing on my eyes and absorbs quickly. One tube lasts me a long time and this is my second tube, it does not irritate my eyes (like most eye creams/gels do) and seems to keep my eye area smooth. Repurchase? Yes.

8. PERFECT WHIP Cleansing Foam
Bought in Taiwan, I used this on my face to remove makeup on lazy days. It does an okay job but does dry the skin out a little. I had such a hard time finishing this as you only need a little bit for each wash (it really foams up). I ended up using this generously on my body just to get rid of it. Repurchase? No. But I still have half a bottle from my sister, am using that to clean synthetic makeup brushes.

9. HADA LABO Moisturizing Lotion
A lotion which is meant to be used after cleansing, this lasted me for approximately 3-4 months. A friend of my uses this and has really smooth skin so I picked this up. It does moisturize my skin a little and did not break me out but that was about it. I have tried other products which work better for my skin. Also available is a firming lotion (red packaging) which is touted as the alternative to SK-II's Essence, I have also tried that but I still find SK-II's to be superior. Repurchase? No.

Total products emptied: 9
Total thrown out: 0
Total: 9
Total Feb - August: 66

Nail ♥: CHANEL Beige vs DIOR Safari Beige

Finding a flattering beige/nude nail polish has always been a bit of a problem for me. Most made my hands look dull and sickly- they were either too yellow or too dark, plus some were really sheer and needed more than 2 coats. 

 

Naturally, I looked to Chanel's colours first and I thought I found the perfect beige in Inattendu after scrutinizing many pictures online. It was beautiful on so many fingertips and I assumed it would work the same magic on me. I was so wrong! Swatching it in-store, I quickly realized how orange-y and dark it was on me. Chanel or not, I only buy colours I would wear.

I also watched my sister swatch Dior's Safari Beige, and fell for the colour, but when I tried it.. it was just blah. It just didn't look as good on my tips. And then Chanel launched Beige, a limited edition colour (only sold online in US then)- I looked at a few pictures online from different blogs and quickly struck it out of my list. Reason being it looked.. common.

About a month ago, my sister called to inform me that Beige was available in-stores and asked if I wanted it. I frantically searched for more pictures online and finally found ONE blogger who said it was her perfect beige. Maybe it was because she's Asian, coupled with the fact that I hadn't bought any polish in the past 3 months that made me say yes without even trying it. 

No regrets though. I LOVE it. My pictures don't do this colour any justice.. it is almost the exact shade as the Chanel handbags in beige. Swatched below are Dior Safari Beige (index and middle fingers) and Chanel Beige (ring and little fingers). Two coats for both but the Dior could definitely do with one more.

Dior Safari Beige  (index & middle), Chanel Beige (ring & little)

The only other polish that I wanted even before I tried it was Frenzy. My sister rolled her eyes and said I was crazy when I told her I wanted a backup bottle... before opening my current one. She has only had 3 manicures done with her bottle and now she wants a back up too. Welcome to the club.

Chanel Frenzy

A "good" thing transcends into an "awesome" thing when you can't quite find the right words to describe it. I tried describing Frenzy (is it a light taupe/milky mushroom/what is it?!) and I just couldn't. Frenzy is that awesome and goes with just about anything.

Call me crazy/a hoarder(?) but I might just get a second bottle when I pick up the Chanel Fashion Night Out 2012 colours I have on hold. Just incase. Is this how hoarders usually start out?!

Empties: July 2012

Though I was out of the country for a few months, I still kept up with my Empties project, bringing along skincare to finish up. I managed to refrain from buying any skincare/makeup during my time away but when I got back.. I treated myself to a few things which I thought I needed.

Looking at my stash now, it has downsized to quite a manageable pile. I only have body butters and makeup removers to really finish up. My best friend on the other hand.. Over the weekend I was helping her pack up to move and I managed to fill up 1 cabin sized trolley bag, 1 large weekend bag and 1 medium sized bag, full of NEW and UNOPENED beauty products. I was left to deal with cosmetics and skincare while she did the rest of the room and every 30 mins or so she would appear with a few products which were left forgotten in a corner/under the daybed.

I thought I was a hoarder until I went through her stash, and not to forget we were in Sephora just the day before. I really love beauty products but as time passes, I am being more selective and cutting back on impulse purchases. That said, I still ended up with a pile of things I don't really need (I was also in Melbourne a week back and couldn't help stocking up on certain products). Guess I won't be buying beauty products for a long while.

My July empties:

1. HABA Squalane Oil

This oil has many benefits but sadly I found it to be too oily for my face and it was sitting untouched for way too long on my dresser. Perhaps I was using it the wrong way? I ended up finishing it on my elbows and arms. Repurchase? No.

2. ORIGINS Out of Trouble Mask, 100ml

This has been my go-to mask in Melbourne whenever my skin acted up, it has a cooling sensation and my skin does feel smoother after use. It is my second bottle and it lasts a long time. This purifies and calms my sensitive skin without making it burn (like most clay masks do). Repurchase? Maybe after I finish my Aesop mask.

3. HOLIKA HOLIKA 3 Seconds Starter (Hyaluronic Acid), 150ml

This is meant to be used before a toner, to prep the skin. Initially it worked, and I felt my skin to be smoother but after a while I did not seem to feel the difference anymore. Maybe my skin got used to it. This lasted me for about 3 months. Repurchase? No, but I still have one more bottle to finish up.

*AVENE Cleanance Sunscreen [sample size]

I really like this sunscreen, I was apprehensive initially as most sunscreens are greasy and tend to clog my pores- but this one didn't and my skin wasn't oily when I used it. Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic for acne prone skin with SPF30. Repurchase? Maybe when I go on a beach holiday as my skincare/makeup already has SPF in it.

*SISLEY Eye and Lip Contour Cream, 2ml [sample size]

An anti-ageing cream for eyes and lips which aids in reducing puffiness, fine lines and dark circles. Eye creams usually cause me milia or sting my eyes but this one didn't and it did seem to make my eye contour smoother. This sample size lasted me for a month. Repurchase? Maybe, if it isn't too pricey.

*ETUDE HOUSE Skin Malgeum Toner (Exfoliation) and Emulsion [sample size]

This was part of a GWP when I bought polishes from them, I know I said only high end/natural products on my face but this toner really impressed me, the scent is really nice and it doesn't dry my sensitive skin out. It is also made from a fruit acid complex and is free from parabens, animal ingredients, dyes, and mineral oil. Read more here. The emulsion was okay, nothing I especially liked or didn't like about it. Repurchase? Yes, I have already bought the Toner but I still have Clarins, Aesop and Laneige toners to finish up. 

4. CEDEL Dry Shampoo
I much prefer the other brands which I have tried, this doesn't perform as well as the BATISTE. I find it more powdery and the scent a little "old". Repurchase? No.

5. BATISTE Dry Shampoo & 6. ADIDAS Action 3 Deodorant
Both have been reviewed here.

Total products emptied: 6
Total thrown out: 0
Total: 6
Total Feb - July: 57

August empties to come soon as well as my recent purchases and adventure abroad! *phew*