February Empties

 

Hi guys. I thought I'd write an Empties post as I haven't in a long time. Here's every beauty product I finished last month...

Colab Dry Shampoo Extreme Volume
I adore this stuff and will continue to purchase. I already have multiple back-ups in the cupboard as I can't be without it.

Rexona Clinical Protection Shower Clean AntiPerspirant Deodorant
I buy these when they are on special at the supermarket. Although more expensive, I find this deodorant is more effective than most others I've tried.

Nature's Way Collagen Gummies
I've stopped using these as I think they are useless and have yet to see them make a difference.

Antipodes Hosanna H2O Intensive Skin Plumping Serum
I used to love this but my interest and use has waned, meaning this bottle has gone off so I'm binning it. Will not re-purchase.

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel
I love the refreshing scent of this and really enjoyed using it but have plenty of other shower gels, mousses, soaps, etc to use up.

Boost Lab 2D Hyaluronic Hydro Boost Serum
Love love love this stuff and will continue to purchase it. Already have my next bottle which I've blogged about in this Boost Lab Serum Haul post.

Models Prefer Eye Brightener Light Diffusing Concealer
I enjoy using this under my eyes, mixed with some argan oil concealer as it can be a bit drying, but the argan oil moistens things up making it easy to blend without creasing. I already have a back-up on the go.

Maybelline Masterliner in Black
I will forever buy this, my holy grail eyeliner. I routinely buy them on special and have up to five back-ups on hand, haha.

Revlon Colorstay Skin Awaken 5-in-1 Concealer
I find this works best under my eyes as a first step after I've applied my eye cream. Love it and will continue to buy.

3 x Garnier Micellar Cleansing Wipes (Sensitive Skin)
I swear by the 3 pack of these, they're so effective and comforting to me. I've already replaced.

L'Oreal Revitalift Filler Deep Replumping Anti-Ageing Day Cream
I'm up in the air about whether to re-purchase as I can only use it before bed. This is effective and feels lovely but pills up badly meaning I can't use it under makeup.

L'Oreal Age Perfect Collagen Tightening Day Cream
I'm now firmly addicted to this cream and already on my third jar. Check out my review of it here. I'll definitely continue to buy it.

Holiday Empties

 

Hi guys! Last week we went to Victor Harbor for a short holiday, staying at a Country Club where we relaxed and played golf. It was amazing to get away during the school holidays, especially since our air conditioning at home died and it's been stifling in the house during this super hot Summer weather. It looks like it won't be fixed for another few weeks too, because they have to ship parts in and it's not an easy fix. Swear words! Edit - it now looks like the best solution is to completely replace the air conditioning unit which will be $9000+. Fantastic!

Anyway, I decided to take a few mini-sized products I've been wanting to use up on the trip with me (along with some bigger products). It's part of my never-ending efforts to declutter the house (and my beauty collection). Here are the ones I managed to finish up whilst away, and my brief thoughts on them.

Lancome Tonique Confort Rehydrating Comforting Toner
I love the slightly jelly consistency of this pink rehydrating toner and really enjoyed using it. This came in a Lancome Gift With Purchase. The perfect size product to take away on holiday.

Kiehl's Retinol Skin Renewing Daily Micro Dose Serum
This felt really nice upon application and seems more gentle than other retinol serums. There was no initial stinging effect and my skin looked really good the next morning.

The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter
I adore this scent and it lasts for ages on the skin. A lovely texture that absorbs well and is non-greasy. I really want to try more fragrances from The Body Shop Body Butter range.

Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
I love this stuff, from the smell of it to the gorgeous light texture, it feels lovely going on and leaves my skin hydrated and supple to the touch.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50+ SPF Lightweight Sunscreen
This tiny little mini was very runny but seemed to work. It's fragrance free and has a non-shiny finish.

Revlon Colorstay Skin Awaken 5-In-1 Concealer
I love this concealer for under my eyes and have already replaced it with another tube. The formula has caffeine and Vitamin C and really helps cover my dark under eye circles. I love it.

So it may not be that many, but I'm happy with what I could finish. It makes it easier to sift through everything, see what I've got and what I want to concentrate on using up next. Do you use any of these products?

November Beauty Empties!

Hi guys! It's time for another beauty empties post. I think I may have absentmindedly thrown out a few things (oops!) so this probably isn't everything. Also, I definitely need a good house clean up, because these were located all over the place. I envy those of you who are super organised!

Batiste Dry Shampoo (Rose Gold)
I really liked the fragrance of this one and would definitely get it again. The floral packaging design is super pretty too and I do like looking at cute products that look good in the bathroom!

Batiste Dry Shampoo Plus (Heavenly Volume)
I'm definitely going to keep buying this one as it's specifically formulated to impart extra volume, which my hair needs. Not as pretty to look at, but meets the needs of my hair type better than the Rose Gold version.

3 x Maybelline Masterliners
Hands down my favourite everyday eyeliner, of course I will continue to buy them, and have already done so (I like having at least two back-ups in the cupboard). I'm not sure that I used all three of these last month, but that's how many I found! You can usually get them half price at Chemist Warehouse or stock up when Priceline are having a makeup sale.

L'Oreal Elvive Fibralogy Thickening Shampoo
I've already bought my next bottle, as I love this stuff. I really hope it's not discontinued as I believe the Fibralogy Thickening Serum has been. Give a girl a break, L'Oreal!

Hair Recipe Strawberry & Mint Cleanse Shampoo
I love using this as a first cleanse to get rid of any build up of product, before going in with the above-mentioned Fibralogy thickening shampoo. I tried some different deep clean type clarifying shampoos but nothing really worked until I tried this one. Again, I get it when Priceline is having a half price haircare sale!

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Solution
I won a trio of mini Bioderma micellar waters and aren't they just the cutest thing ever? These are the best micellar waters I've tried and the only negative is that the bottle isn't bigger!

Oh Deer Sugar Use Your Melon Shower Moose
This watermelon and lime shower mousse was amazing! I love these fragrances and the Oh Deer Sugar mooses (spelled that way on purpose!) are definitely Holy Grail products for me. I love the whipped texture and they're so much fun to use. I'm currently using a Banana and Vanilla Milkshake one from the same line. You can read my mini-review of the Oh Deer Sugar Rose & Passionfruit Shower Moose here.

Lime Crime Glitter Helper
I'm throwing this out because unfortunately it has gone off. I didn't get that much use out of it either! Oh well.

Revlon Photoready Colour Correcting Pen
I love love love this product and have already replaced it during the recent Priceline cosmetics sale. It's perfect for hiding my dark circles and the formula smooths on effortlessly and blends like a dream.

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Disclaimer: Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

What have you finished up recently? Let me know in the comments below!

May Empties!

Hi guys! A short and sweet empties post from me today. I only finished seven products last month, but then as soon as we went into June, the empties started piling up, so next month's post will feature a lot more products. In the meantime, here's everything I completed in May.

Batiste Stylist XXL Volume Spray
This is still not as good as my favourite Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo (that they discontinued - boo!) but I'm learning to like it more I guess. I'm settling. I'm still pissed off that I can no longer buy the best volumising dry shampoo I had found on the market though. Can you tell?

Hask Coconut Oil Nourishing Shine Hair Oil
I wish this wasn't so hard to find because I flat out love it! The coconutty fragrance immediately transports me to a tropical island/white sand/blue water/laying on the beach/sipping cocktails type sitch, and it makes my hair look healthy as well. I couldn't find it in-store to repurchase, so I'm trying the Argan Oil Healing Shine one (featured in this Priceline 50% Off Haircare Haul post) instead!

Clinique Youth Surge Age Decelerating Moisturiser
This was a little sample pot that still managed to take me forever to finish. It was nice enough but I've got other moisturisers to get through, so I won't be buying it.

Oh Deer Sugar (Oh) Candy Cane Mint & Coconut Body Scrub
I actually won this in a Giveaway two Christmases ago (eek!) so I thought I better get a wriggle on and use it up! I wasn't a huge fan unfortunately, despite loving most Oh Deer Sugar products. I find their dry scrubs quite harsh on the skin, and much prefer the softer, gentler formula of the Soda Pop creamy scrubs. It did smell minty and fresh though!

Oh Deer Sugar (Oh) Confetti Fawn Jellybean & Popping Candy Shower Moose
The Oh Deer Sugar shower mooses (moose, deer, get it??) are my most favourite line from this brand! I adore the creamy, whipped formula and they are an absolute delight to use. I did enjoy Confetti Fawn but I won't repurchase as I want to try all the fragrance varieties in the range. You can read my thoughts on the lovely fruity Peachy Keen one and the Rose & Passionfruit one in my March Favourites and September Favourites blog posts respectively.

L'Occitane Divine Eye Balm
The L'Occitane store at Westfield Marion was handing out these samples as I was passing by so I thought I'd try them. I haven't tried much from this brand (maybe a hand cream?), and I have a particular interest in eye creams, however I couldn't really form much of an opinion from this tiny sample. The product was fairly thick and moisturising, as you'd expect from a balm.

L'Occitane Divine Eyes
This is a much lighter formula than the Eye Balm and was nice enough, but again I couldn't really test it properly from the sachet sample, as it just lasted a few goes. A good way to make my expensive eye creams last longer, via the use of free samples in the interim though?

So I didn't finish up that many products last month, but blogging about them has inspired me to try harder and I think I'll aim to write an Empties post every month. That way I can actually bin my finished products instead of hanging on to them for a blog post I never end up writing!

You may be interested in my April Beauty Empties post!

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Have you tried any of these products? 

Beauty Empties!

Hi guys! My empties (beauty products I've finished) have been building up and I want to throw them out, but obviously I can't until after I've blogged about them, so here goes!

Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleansing Towelettes ~ or wipes as we call them in the real word! I quite enjoyed the pink grapefruit fragrance and would consider repurchasing these in the future.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin-Clearing Mattifying Toner ~ this was a tad harsh but I am addicted to tea tree products, especially toners (that smell!). The Lush one is gentler, I'd probably get that next.

Bobbi Brown EXTRA Lip Tint ~ this was nice, but the formula was a bit soft. As a result, I went through it quite quickly. I won it, so no plans to buy this in the future.

Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel ~ one of my all time favourite shower gels, I will always re-purchase this when it's available. You can't beat that delicious rosy aroma! I've reviewed it before here.

Oh Deer Sugar (Oh) Mango Sorbet Soda Pop Body Scrub ~ this was so enjoyable, from the fruity fragrance to the soft, creamy yet scrubby formula. My type of scrub, I'll definitely repurchase.

Korres Mango Lip Butter ~ another mango product! These Korres lip butters are delightful and I want to get more in the future, but I have way too many lip balms to get through right now.

Olay Total Effects 7 In 1 Day Cream ~ I used to purchase this over and over as I do love the results, but I've been using up moisturisers from my beauty cupboard lately. I'd love to get back to using this however!

Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin in Ivory ~ A Holy Grail foundation for me, but then the formula seemed to change and I started using Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Liquid foundation instead and fell in love with it! I still  use Colorstay when I need a long-lasting face.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque ~ another Holy Grail product, see my review here. The absolute best thing I've found for concealing dark under eye circles, I will repurchase again and again.

Lush FUN in Pink ~ this came in the Lush Think Pink Gift hubby bought me. It was extremely soft and creamy and smelled great, but I went through it way too quickly. Will give it a miss.

Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm ~ the best solution to dry, chapped lips, I talked about this in my April Beauty Faves last month. I was kindly sent the Limited Edition Sugar Plum flavour* which comes in Unicorn packaging, check that out here.

GUESS 1981 Fragrance* ~ this perfume has such a feminine, sexy scent that I adore and I'm really bummed I've finished it! I've got a lot of other fragrances to use up however, so I won't be getting a new bottle. I reviewed it here.

Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Sunscreen Spray ~ My son and I loved this! The spray application meant it was so quick and easy to apply and it soaked in really quickly. No plans to repurchase currently though as we have a few other sunscreens to get through.

Antipodes Hosanna H2O Skin-Plumping Serum ~ I love this so much I featured it in my April Beauty Favourites. I'm currently using my second bottle and will repurchase when it's on sale!

Redken Beach Envy Volume Texturising Conditioner* ~ conditioner take me so long to get through as I can only uses a tiny amount or my hair will go flat (yes, even with a volume conditioner, lol). This was nice, but I've got others in the cupboard to use now.

Rimmel #Insta Fix & Matte Translucent Powder* ~ I love this stuff and have already bought another. I'm a recent convert to translucent powder and now I'm wondering why I didn't try it sooner. I've reviewed it here.

I also threw out a disposable razor (not pictured) but I'm seriously considering purchasing a women's electric shaver in the future. I deserve it!

You may be interested in Recent Empties!!

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Disclaimer: Products marked * were provided for editorial consideration. Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

Do you see any favourites here? What have you finished up lately?

Recent Empties!

I haven't blogged my Empties in a really long time, so here are the finished products that I could find, and if I come across any more I'll either throw them out or put them in next month's lot if they are worth talking about. I'm trying to de-clutter the house, so it will be great to actually throw this lot out once I've blogged them! On another note, I have a Giveaway coming soon so keep an eye out for that!

Alpha-H Liquid Gold
Love love love this stuff and I already have another bottle on the go! I use it the night before a special occasion, because it really gives me a brighter, better-looking complexion. I will always re-purchase this, but I wait for various discounts or offers!
Re-purchase? Yes

TN Dickinson's Witch Hazel
This is another staple in my skincare routine and I love that it's so cheap, because I can always stock up, guilt-free! Having said that, I've just bought a Tea Tree Toner from The Body Shop on sale, so I'll be using that instead for a while. But then I will.....
Re-purchase? Yes

Australis Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder
This got low then broke up, but luckily I had already bought a new one in the Priceline 40% Off Cosmetics sale. This time I went for Light Beige instead of Natural though, which matches my skin colour more. Love this powder!
Re-purchase? Already have!

Darphin Exquisage Beauty Revealing Cream
I got this as a sample with an order or possibly in a Mecca Beauty Loop Box (thanks for playing along, memory!) and I really love it! Great results, felt good, no reaction, just an all-round great product. However I have too many other creams like this to use up, so....
Re-purchase? No

Uriage Aqua PRECIS Eye Contour Care
I really love this eye gel and found it to quite effective. My routine was to use this before bed, and my holy grail La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Lift Cream in the morning. I won this tube and by a strange coincidence simultaneously redeemed my BeautyHeaven points on the same thing in a Beautorium, so I.....
Re-purchase? Already have a back-up!

Wotnot Facial Wipes for Normal/Sensitive Skin*
If you read my What's In The March Good Green Box? post, you'll know that these were in the Good Green Box! It only contained five wipes, so they are gone, baby, gone. I loved the smell of these and how gentle they were. I'm pretty interchangeable with my wipes though, so I will probably grab something else next time.
Re-purchase? No

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum
This is a tiny little sample tube that weirdly took forever to use! It had a surprising firm jelly like consistency that sort of was squishy but held together. It soaked in easily enough though and I enjoyed using it. But again I have too many other similar products in my stash to use, so....
Re-purchase? No

Lush Lord Of Misrule Shower Cream
Or shower SCREAM if you go by the most amazing product typo I've ever seen! OMG, this was 50% off in the Boxing Day sale and I have taken forever and a day to use this up. It actually expired in January this year and there were little grainy bits in it. Despite transforming me into the Incredible Hulk's shower double, I will give this bright green cream a miss and concentrate on using up my shower gels instead.
Re-purchase? No

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub-Gelee
I loved this scrub! The fragrance was amazing and the formula was spot on! I found it refreshing and fun to use and would look at getting it again in the future, but I have enough other scrubs in my stash to work my way through first.
Re-purchase? No

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Disclaimer: Products marked * were provided for editorial consideration. Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

Have you tried any of these products?

Project 10 Pan, Status: Completed!

Oh hey! You may remember I embarked on my first ever Project Pan last November, with the goal of finishing 10 products by the end of 2016. Well it's now 2017, and I can report that it was a roaring success! I completed nine out of the ten products, only stalling on a MAC lipstick. Doing the Project Pan really made me focus on finishing the allotted products, and I'm super-keen to start a new one for I love feeling organised, goal-driven and successful in my ongoing aim of de-cluttering the house (and my beauty product stash!). I think next time I'll do a Project 20 Pan and give myself three months in which to finish the products (yes, I never tax myself too much, because who needs stress?). Here are the Project 10 Pan products.....

1 The Body Shop Watermelon Lip Balm - STATUS: FINISHED
I'm surprised how fast I used this up as it's usually so hard to get through a whole pot of lip balm! I have one other Born Lippy from The Body Shop currently in use and that's the yummy Strawberry one. I'm still debating which of my shit-ton of balms to include in my next Project Pan, though!

2 Chi Chi Coconut & Lime Perfume - STATUS: FINISHED
I have a whole set of these colourful mini sprays, so I can't wait to make more progress with the rest now that this one is done. The Coconut & Lime was so tropical and delicious, an absolutely lovely scent. Made me sneeze each and every fucking time I spritzed it though, without fail!

3 MAC Amplified Lipstick in Craving - STATUS: UNFINISHED AND MISSING
LOL I actually can't find this lipstick at the moment, so apologies for no progress photo. I'm pretty sure I put it somewhere really special so I'd remember to use it, but have forgotten where that special place is. That's not the reason it's unfinished though; I simply got sick of wearing the same colour lipstick day in, day out. Epic fail, haha.

4 NIP + FAB Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme - STATUS: FINISHED
It wasn't hard to finish these, as they are pretty great to use. I'm not gonna lie, I did use a few on my son's feet when I spotted his soles were filthy one day. That black shit came off in an instant, lol. But yeah, I haven't repurchased because I bought another NIP + FAB product in the recent Priceline 'pink dot' sale instead and I don't want to own too many N+F products as I fear I may become addicted.

5 Skin B5 Acne Control Moisturiser* - STATUS: FINISHED & ACCIDENTALLY THROWN OUT
I really enjoyed using this lightweight moisturiser, especially around my jawline and chin where I am susceptible to breakouts. It absorbed quickly and really helped control oils and clear my congestion. However I've got too many other moisturisers to get through so won't get another one. I accidentally threw it out so it didn't make it into the photo! I've reviewed this moisturiser along with the rest of the Skin B5 Acne Control range here.

6 Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel* - STATUS: FINISHED
I used this up in delicious-smelling bubblebaths to get through it faster as it was past its expiry date (but still totally fine). My son also loves using Snow Fairy in the shower, so we were able to share it.

7 Lush Santa's Belly Shower Jelly* - STATUS: FINISHED
I love the smell of this Christmas release (reviewed here), so it was an absolute pleasure to use. One of the most fun shower products too, because it's all wobbly like jelly yet it does hold its shape well. I love these Lush Jellys, and will definitely be putting either my Whoosh or 93,000 Miles one in my next Project Pan.

8 Lush Happy Hippy Shower Gel - STATUS: FINISHED
One of my favourite Lush shower gels, along with Rose Jam and now the new Christmas release Bubbly (which I reviewed here). So refreshing and zingy, but I'll work my way through all my other shower gels before repurchasing.

9 Oh Deer Sugar Rose & Passionfruit Shower Moose - STATUS: FINISHED
Oh Deer God, this is one of my all-time favourite shower products! My love for the texture, formula and scent of this amazing product knows no bounds. I've blogged about it before here in my September Favourites. I want to try a different ODS Shower Moose next so I'll have to suffer without this rosy delight in my life!

10 Oh Deer Sugar Fruit Tingle Body Scrub - STATUS: FINISHED
This smelled sweet and fantastic but wasn't my favourite formula as I really prefer the gentler Oh Deer Sugar bubbling Soda Pop scrubs. I'm still thrilled to have won a Candy Cane ODS Body Scrub in a recent Instagram giveaway, though, so I'll see how I go with that!

Linking up with Monday Makeup Madness at Fabulous And Fun Life and Life This Week at Denise Whelan Blogs as well as Open Slather at One Mother Hen and Mummy Mondays at All Mum Said (links on sidebar).

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Disclaimer: Products marked * were provided for editorial consideration. Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

Are you doing a Project Pan? Link it up below, I'd love to check it out!

December Empties!

Another round of Empties, and I'm making a conscious effort to finish products lately. I think it has something to do with the huge amount of self-gifting I participated in around Christmas. I have so much stuff, I have ascertained I'll never need to buy makeup, skincare or nail polish ever again (excluding staples). Of course, I still will, but I'm going to try living off my built up stock for as long as I can hold out. Excluding staples. Always excluding staples.

Formula 10.0.6 Down To The Pore Strips
These 'blackhead banishing pore strips with tea tree and kaolin' were no different to any of the other pore strips I've used. They all go on the same, work the same way and do the same thing. I don't even have a blackhead problem really, I just get these (any brand, I'm not fussy) for the fun of pulling it off and seeing all the gross bits come out. Is it just me who gets a kick out of this? I hope not.

Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume
This is my favourite dry shampoo ever, and is most definitely a staple. It gives my fine locks tons of volume and soaks up oils between washes. I stock up when they are on special, because I use this product every day. I've spoken about it before here.

Australis Glitter Polish in Rio Riot
I have a lot of glitter nail polish, and most of the Australis nail glitter varieties (hello Milky Way, Fairy Bread, Glitter Strikes Back, etc). However this bottle was damaged (the inner lid was broken and it didn't screw closed properly) when my online order arrived and I never bothered to replace it. I was able to use it for a while, but then I put it in my vast polish collection and forgot about it. Suffice to say it's now dried up and useless, so into the bin it goes.

Revlon Lash Potion Waterproof Mascara
I was using this and wondering why I was getting a clump effect, then switched to another mascara and the problem ceased. I think this might just be too dry (can't remember when I got it), so I'll toss it and continue with my newer mascaras instead.

Maybelline Age Rewind Treatment Concealer
This is an effective dark circles corrector, and it's another staple in my makeup organiser. I love the formula and consistency, although the foam applicator can be a pain in the arse. I've blogged about it before here.

Australis Eyeshadow Primer
I'm not into expensive eyeshadow primers, and there's no need to be when this cheapie works so well. The white, creamy primer blends in effortlessly and really helps the shadow stay put throughout the day. Don't make my mistake and apply shitloads of bright green, sparkly eyeshadow as an experiment after using this primer, because you will be fucked for the entire day. The only drawback is the metallic pink tube means you cannot see when you are about to run out.

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel
Half of my label has rubbed off, so I must be super aggressive in the shower! This limited edition cult product is only available at Christmas time, hence stocking up often occurs (I still have a huge one from last year I'm madly trying to finish; the expiry date is fast approaching so from now on my son will be having seventeen Snow Fairy bubblebaths per day!). Anyway this is a pretty pink, super sweet candy floss fragranced gel that's fun and lovely. I've talked about it before here.

Disclaimer: All products bought with my own money. All reviews are my honest opinion.

November Empties!

Guess what? I threw out a huge bunch of empty products because I tired of doing Empties posts! But then I wanted to again! So, I only have five empty products to report on as everything else is Gone Girl (I still have yet to see this movie, by the way). Here goes...

Nivea Lip Butter Caramel Cream
I love this! It's smooth, creamy and melts into my lips like butter. This little tin of heaven made my February Favourites earlier this year. Perfect for moisturising and nourishing lips overnight or prepping your pout prior to lipstick application, this gorgeous smelling lip butter is very handy. No need to replace this, because I've still got the other Nivea varieties, Raspberry Rose and Vanilla & Macadamia to finish!

Clean & Clear Advantage Fast Clearing Spot Gel
I was sent a large number of these to trial ages ago (close to two years I'd say) and I've finally finished them all (I also gave a few away). I've reviewed this before here but my opinion has since changed. This spot gel used to work very effectively on me, but lately it's not doing a thing. I think the product has actually lost its potency because I've had it so long! I can't see any other reason why something that once cleared up my breakouts fast, would no longer work. I'll be hitting up my beauty cupboard because I know there are some other zit creams in there to try, rather than replace this product.

Philosophy Amazing Grace Fragrance
This came as part of a gift set I bought from Adore Beauty, and I'm so sad I've finished this mini bottle! AMAZINGly (lol) this was another February Favourite. The main thing I enjoy about this perfume is that it's light, clean and fresh. I'm very wary of strong scents because they easily trigger my headaches. For the fragrance buff, the top notes are mandarin orange, grapefruit and bergamot, middle notes are freesia, jasmine and rose and the base note is musk. As much as I love this, I won't be repurchasing, because I have a ton of other perfumes to get through. Also, I want to try something different like Juicy Couture or something by Katy Perry or Lady Gaga! Strength and headache-inducement pending!

Optrex Refreshing Eye Drops
I know you're not really supposed to regularly use eyedrops, so I've cut right back. I used to get the ones that removed eye redness, but now I just get moisture replenishing or 'tears' ones, and try to use them way less often. Anyway these were OK. I used them when my eyes were sore, dry or tired and sometimes when there was something in there and I wanted to flush it out. But yeah, it's not good to use eyedrops frequently, and I'm not recommending it.

Revlon Photoready Eye Primer + Brightener
You can see how much I've used this from the extensive amount of wear to the labelling. It's worn off and looking pretty shabby. I pretty much used this daily as a finishing touch under my eyes. Even though it contains a primer (and thus should probably be used first), I found the thin, lightweight formula worked best over my concealer because it smoothed out fine lines and brightened the area really well. I've not even tried using this on my lids as a primer, so I can't  comment on its effectiveness at that. I'm not going to repurchase though, because now I'm using Benefit Erase Paste and my Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer instead.

Disclaimer: Revlon product I won, Clean & Clear product was provided for review through another company (non-blog related), all other products were purchased by me.

April Empties: Six Little Beauties!

Emptiness so good I've already replaced four out of the six, and considering the fifth. Just feeling a bit guilty buying beauty products, given the excessive haulage of late. I know replacing staples is a completely different ballpark, but I should utilise the large stash of products I have built up instead.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold
This stuff is crazy good! It's like..... well, liquid gold. Bahaha, that was shocking. And so was the difference in my skin after a few uses of this much-hyped cult product from Alpha-H. It stings a bit on application, but it's supposed to. It's a skin resurfacing treatment that claims to reduce wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation and brighten your complexion. It did all of those things for me, plus my skintone was more even, and in general, just looked way better than before. I'm already on to my second bottle.

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
I've already replaced this but with the Light shade, because how hard is it to find bloody Fair Clair? IMPOSSIBLE! Same with the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. Everyone has Light, but Fair Clair is as rare as hen's teeth! Fair Clair is lighter than Light. Since Light looked quite yellow-toned I thought it was worth trying for concealing blueish dark under-eye circles and it is doing a good job. I just wish Fair Clair was more readily available!

Maybelline Masterliner
I adore this creamy, easy to use retractable black pencil liner. It can be built up to create a dramatic line, and you never have to sharpen it. I love the results, and the fact that it doesn't budge, smudge or smear, all day. It's also quite inexpensive and Priceline always have sales and discounts, so it's not uncommon for me to get two for the price of one. A definite staple in my makeup bag!

Benefit Boo Boo Zap
I really liked this, but probably won't repurchase, just because I'm psychologically not alright with spending $28 on a zit gel. It did work really well at clearing up problem spots and was fast-drying and didn't leave my skin sticky like some pimple treatments do, meaning I could wear it under makeup without it rubbing off. Aargh, maybe I should consider getting another one?

Clinique Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel
From the Skin Supplies For Men range. So SO good. And it kills me not to repurchase, but it's $52 and I've been spending a lot lately. Also, it gives me a chance to work my way through all the eye creams in the cupboard and try some new products. Anyway, this eye gel is a wonder product, a multitasking little gem. It reduces puffiness, hydrates and decreases my dark circles. I've blogged about it before here.

Dermalogica Precleanse
This is a cleansing oil that kind of melts your makeup off, and at first I thought what's the point of adding another step, won't I just remove my makeup with cleanser anyway? But then I became a bit addicted. I'm using way more Dermalogica products than I used to, and I find them so effective (if not a little expensive). It feels odds rubbing an oil into oily skin, but apparently Precleanse is ideal for oily skin types. It also removes all traces of eye makeup quickly and easily. Unfortunately I knocked this bottle to the ground in the shower and it split on the bottom, so I had to store it upside down to prevent leakage until I'd finished it. I've replaced it with the 150ml bottle.

Disclaimer: Alpha-H Liquid Gold was won in a competition, all other products were bought by me.

July Empties Reviewed!

'Empties' refers to the beauty products I've finished. Here are all my empties from last month, with my thoughts on each!

NORSCA CLEAR SPORT ANTI-PERSPIRANT DEODORANT
This was satisfactory while I wasn't very active, but as soon as I increased my exercise level (walking to and from school for pick-ups and drop-offs and excessive housework, LOL) I noticed the performance of this deodorant rapidly declined. To the point where I could actually SMELL my sweat! This never happens and I was completely mortified! I will not be repurchasing this product.

TRILOGY BODY CLEANSING BAR
I normally love Trilogy products, particularly their lovely Rosehip Oil, however I could only rate this as a satisfactory soap. Despite the inclusion of the aforementioned organic rosehip oil, aloe vera, carrot and chamomile, I was put off by the sharp and awkward edges of this product. It comes as a long bar with an obvious indentation line along the middle, where you are supposed to split the bar in two. However, the product was too thick to break with my hands, so I had to cut it. So I had the sharp hurty edges from the side I cut, plus the already abrupt edges/pointy corners from the other sides. This ruined my whole experience with the Trilogy body cleansing bar, and I probably would have a less harsh opinion if the edges were smooth.

DERMALOGICA SPECIAL CLEANSING GEL
I seriously love this clear cleansing gel from Dermalogica! It's gentle, yet effective, and my skin feels clean and healthy afterwards. I raved about this product in my May Faves, which you can read about here. I'm sad that its gone, and I'll be actively trying to win some more, and failing that, I will reluctantly purchase a bottle!

AVEDA INVATI EXFOLIATING SHAMPOO & THICKENING CONDITIONER
I was excited to win these through a Facebook competition, as I'm always on the lookout for volumising hair products and treatments. However, I didn't notice any difference in my hair or any real effect from using the product. This is understandable given the tiny sample size (I think I only got one use out of the shampoo and two out of the conditioner!). The aroma was interesting and somewhat masculine. To be honest, I'll probably forget about these products. Had they included a few more sample tubes or a larger size bottle so I could assess the product more effectively, things may be different.

MAYBELLINE AGE REWIND DARK CIRCLES TREATMENT CONCEALER
I really like the results I get from this under-eye concealer. The thin consistency is perfect for the delicate under-eye region. I find the formula is really great at diminishing the look of my dark circles, and because the texture is light and thin, this allows for the addition of a little Benefit Erase Paste over the top, without any caking or product build-up. In other words, it provides a lovely base if more concealer is needed under the eyes. My only qualms are that the label on the outside of the tube rubs off over time, and I also had an issue with the foam applicator falling off! I'm already using my next tube of this stuff; it's become a regular in my daily makeup routine.

Disclaimer: Aveda, Dermalogica and Trilogy are prizes I won; Norsca and Maybelline I bought. All opinions are my own.

Giddyup for my May Empties!

Another month, another bunch of Empties. Most notably, Lush Happy Hippy. Goodbye, sweet lover. Oh, how I loved you. Until we meet again (which will be as soon as I can haul thy arse instore).

Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Ageing Cream
I love this moisturiser! It really seems to improve the look of my skin and address the concerns it purports to. I've reviewed it before, here.

Lush Happy Hippy Hair and Body Gel
I refer to this product as a shower gel because I've never used it in my hair, but I have to say, out of all the shower gels I've tried, this is my favourite ever. By far. I simply adore it. It produces a high lather, which is satisfying in itself. But the fragrance, oh my GOD, the fragrance. It's subtle, grapefruity aroma is one of the most uplifting things I've ever experienced. True to the name, this makes me Happy. I don't know about the Hippy part, though. I got this half price during my trip to Melbourne in January, and I'm quite upset it's finished. Already planning when I can get my next bottle. I highly recommend this gorgeous shower gel to anyone and everyone. You won't regret it.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Original
Batiste Dry Shampoo is one of my staples, however I prefer XXL Volume to Original. I can't get by without dry shampoo and don't know how I coped before it was invented. I probably would have actually had to WASH my hair with actual water! LOL. I've blogged about Batiste Dry Shampoo many times before: here are all the places.

Lush Big Shampoo
This is quite fun to use, and quite unlike your everyday liquid shampoos! It contains raw salt, seaweed and lime juice and smells great. You essentially scoop out some Big, dump it on your head and massage it in, complete with chunky raw salt crystals. Make sure you listen for the 'clink, clink, clink' sound as the salt drops down and hits the shower floor! I can't say my hair was bigger after using this, but it was clean and looked good. I'm undecided on a re-purchase at this point, because I still have a Lush New solid shampoo to finish. Besides, I'm single-handedly keeping the Dry Shampoo industry afloat.

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant
This was a sample size I received. I'm a big fan of facial exfoliants, but this was way too gentle for me. I could barely feel the exfoliating particles and it basically just felt like a cream cleanser. It didn't feel like it was giving my skin a deep down clean, and was far from satisfying. It would probably suit those with sensitive skin.

Clean & Clear Advantage Fast Clearing Spot Gel
I really like this spot gel; it works effectively to clear my breakouts and the great thing about it is you can apply it then put makeup over the top and it doesn't have that annoying 'rub-off' effect. I wear makeup all day and I want a treatment that I can use throughout the day, not just at night when my makeup comes off. I received a bunch of these to trial from one of the trial/survey companies ages ago, and I'm still using them up.

REMINDER! Don't throw out your LUSH empties! Bring five empty pots instore and swap them over for a FREE Lush Fresh Face Mask!

Disclaimer: Batiste, Olay & Lush were bought by me. Dermalogica was a free sample and Clean & Clear was provided to trial and review for another company (non-blog related).

Empties Reviewed: March 2013

Here's every beauty product I finished (or 'emptied') in March!

Lush Rub Rub Rub
This 'startlingly refreshing shower scrub' was satisfactory, but I didn't fall in love with it. Given my recent addiction to Lush products (see my huge hauls here and here), this was a little disappointing. Body scrubs as a general category rate near the top of my beauty favourites, and I have tried a lot, so I probably have quite high expectations. I won't be repurchasing, as I have a TON of other Lush products to get through before I even think about buying anything else from them.

Thank You, Neil :)

Batiste Dry Shampoo Blush
This is such an effective dry shampoo that soaks up oil with ease, provides volume and doesn't make my hair go white like some dry shampoos. That the can designs look pretty on the bathroom shelf is a bonus. Batiste is currently my favourite brand of dry shampoo since Toni & Guy changed their formula with their latest range. Blush has a delicate, subtle fragrance and is a regular on my Empties posts, along with Fresh, Diva, Tropical and XXL.

Clinique Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel
Love, love, love this product from the Skin Supplies For Men range, and have already re-purchased. I actually had quite an aversion to rollerballs before trying this, but it has single-handedly changed my mind. There's nothing better than the cooling sensation of rolling this on under my bleary eyes every morning. It seems to address a multitude of issues, reducing puffiness, dark circles and generally improving the appearance of my under eye region. I use an eye cream over the top to facilitate the application of concealer, because this is a treatment gel, not a moisturiser.

Benefit Erase Paste
Another favourite (and yes, I've re-purchased, taking advantage of Adore Beauty's March goodie bag GWP). I don't even care that it's in a little pot that I have to shove my finger into; the product's formula, consistency and effectiveness as a multi-purpose concealer more than makes up for this. Confession: I'm a Concealoholic. I LOVE buying and trying as many concealers as I can, and use different ones for red spots, dark circles and hiding fine lines. I'm currently using Erase Paste under my eyes, as it's really good at hiding dark shadows. I warm it up on my fingertips, mix in a little Benefit Eye Bright, then apply under my eyes. Erase Paste featured in my June Beauty Favourites here.


** When you finish your Lush products, remember not to throw them out! Instead, collect 5 empty containers and claim your Lush freebie!

FREEBIE ALERT!

Disclaimer: All products were purchased by me.

Empties With Reviews: A'kin, Benefit, Trilogy, L'Occitane and more!

Break it doooooooooooown ......

L'Occitane Gentle Body Scrub
This is a Certified Organic foaming body scrub containing powdered olive stones and moisturising olive tree extracts. This scrub has the most satisfying scratchy particles for effective exfoliation and I love how it lathers, making it easier to spread over your body. The only downfall is that even when I shook the product, it remained separated in the bottle. This resulted in lots of gel shooting out quickly, until I'd used half of the scrub. Then I had to squeeze the hell out of the tube to get some product out, which, you guessed it, was 90% scrub particles. Then I'd be squeezing really hard and suddenly a crapload of gel with no particles would squirt out! Fun fun fun!

A'Kin Orange Blossom Body Wash
High lather alert! This satisfying body wash imparts a heady, earthy orange aroma more so than a sweet one. A thick gel that left my skin feeling soft and clean, this product is parafen and sulphate free and not tested on animals. But mostly, it made me feel happy. Must be the 'aromatherapy benefits' of citrus!

Trilogy Clean + Balance Shampoo
I quite liked this shampoo that's formulated for fine, oily and combination hair types to combat product build up. It contains wheat amino acids and certified organic rosehip oil. A lovely gentle shampoo with a subtle pleasant fragrance. I felt like my scalp was thanking me for putting something non-chemically on it.

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel
Hauled here and given Top 5 Product status by me here. Impressive lather with an addictive lemon meringue pie aroma!

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Scrub
Again, hauled here. This scrub has a strange, thick consistency and leaves a film on the skin, which some people will find annoying. Not as good as the gel, I still enjoyed the lemony goodness.

Benefit Sugarbomb Blush
Reviewed like a noob here, this blush has grown on me with time. I also use my own photos now. LOL!

ASAP Daily Exfoliating Facial Scrub
Reviewed here, this scrub is as harsh as Judge Judy. Yet, not as endearing. Proceed with caution. I used it as a body scrub, because I'm quite fond of my facial skin.

The Usual Suspects - the following products are regular empties, so expect maximum linkage to previous posts on them!

TN Dickinson's Witch Hazel
A toner for clear, smooth skin, reviewed here.

Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume
One of my Top 5 Products, lookie here.

Maybelline MasterLiner Eyeliner
Love it! Reviewed here in October Favourites and here.

Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti-Ageing Cream
My favourite moisturiser ever, reviewed here.

Garnier Pure Active Blackhead Clearing Scrub
I love the medicinal (unpleasant to many, I'm sure) stench of this scrub, and have returned to it, after trialling a few others. Reviewed here.


Disclaimer: Products I bought: The Body Shop Gel & Scrub, Batiste, TN Dickinsons, L'Occitane, Maybelline, Olay, Garnier. Products I won: Trilogy, Benefit. A'Kin was free as a thankyou for completing a trial and ASAP was a Gift With Purchase. All opinions are my own.

What products have you finished lately?