Empties' Post (November - December 2014)

First and foremost, Happy New Year to everyone who is reading this! I hope 2015 will bring you joy, health and gentleness. 

This post is a wrap-up of what I used up during the last 2 months of 2014, here we go:

biOrganics Hair Perfecting Oil - a mini size here, smells funny (light plastic smell...), tames the hair but can't quite replace MoroccanOil formula, but not bad if you want to go green and quit cold turkey on the M oil.

Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion - I have interesting situations with Weleda skincare. Their formula is runny (very, very runny as it's called Lotion), but it smells too strong of alcohol content, and once applied, it didn't sink in that well to my skin, leaving a sticky touch...although I agree credits should be made for them being "natural".

Cotton puffs...

AYRES Body Lotion - Came in with the June Glossybox of USA (gifted to me by Xiao of MessyWands!), product smells great and sinks in well. 

Shiseido oil-blotting sheets - For some reason their GWP sheets are getting thinner and thinner...to the point that your fingers are also getting the "greased" touch after blotting...*yikes* and it's only paper and doesn't cost much. Come on Shiseido!

Kose Clear Turn EX Fitting Lift Eye Mask - these don't really stay on well (supposedly overnight), and it's not as cooling to the eyes as my beloved DHC ones.

Clarins Toning lotion with Iris - jumbo size here. Smells rather obvious of fragrance, nothing special about this toner.

Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castille Soap in Rose - can't quite get over the way it smells, it gets a bit mundane after a few uses.

Skin Blossom Complete Care Shampoo - I found most "green" shampoos to be a bit on the drying side and this one is no exception. It's OK for everyday uses but sometimes need to be topped up with a conditioner afterwards.

Kimberly Sayer Anti-oxidant Daily Moisturizing Cream SPF 30 - This cream is light, and sinks in nicely. Perfect for low-key days when you don't feel like putting on extra sunscreen.

Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control - This feels cooling on the skin and seems to work decent, but rather expensive to be purchased and used on a daily basis.

Clarins Body Shaping Cream - See above for the same comment.

OSKIA Eye Wonder Nutri-active Eye Serum - WOW. I'm amazed by how well it sinks in and it seems to tackle a bit of my under eye darkness the next morning. The texture is light enough that it disappears after a minute and you can add an eye cream to it to enhance action. Impressed. Some online retailers sell this sample, get one and try it!!!

Jill Stuart Fragrance Body Mist in Lychee & Guava - I used this as hair mist, doesn't leave a sticky feeling on skin though. Only gripe is the scent is quite pungent during the first few minutes of spraying. This is a deluxe sample size.

LUSH African Paradise Body Conditioner - The first mini size LUSH pot I've ever seen and it's so cute!! That aside, this doesn't sink in that well and sits on top of the skin and feels sticky post-application.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream - Last jar of this. Not gonna repurchase even though it feels wonderful, it just doesn't get along well with my skin, sadly.

Lavera My Age Intensive Eye Cream - Full review HERE. A tube of this really takes ages to use up (mean it as a merit!), sinks in well, perfect for day and night, sits perfectly under eye makeup. Will be repurchasing one day.

Astalift Cleansing Oil - nothing special about it, decent. The oil is orange in color...

Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser - this formula has SLS in it, too small of a sample to test its effect.

Aesop B & Tea Balancing Toner - too small of a sample to say anything about it.

SANTE Goji Power Bio-Goji & Lemon Shower Gel - doesn't leave my skin dry, scent was normal.

Sofina Beaute SPF50 PA++++ Sunscreen - chemical sunscreen that doesn't leave a white cast.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Stretching Mascara - lengthens lashes a lot, but doesn't hold curls well, makes them drape a bit.

Dior DiorShow Extase Mascara - Holds curl fairly well, makes lashes look fuller and more pigmented. I like to layer this with the above mascara. This alone will smudge a bit though.

More Cotton puffs.

Innisfree It's Real Cucumber Mask - Funny how everyone here went crazy for their masks, they're OK but not WOW.

Skinfood Hydro Fitting Seaweed Mask Sheet (soothing type) - This gives a nice feeling after use - plump, moisturized and soothed.

Nature Republic Acai Berry Mask - SUCKS big time. It wasn't gel mask sheet nor cloth ones. I can't quite pin down what it is, but it just doesn't stay close to the face. The liquid in the mask is milky white and pure yikes, doesn't sink in well, couldn't wait to take this off.

Dr. Hauschka Quince Body Moisturizer - Same funny old problem as Weleda, light runny texture, but this one doesn't moisturize at all. It smells like alcohol being rubbed in and evaporated on the skin (hence lack of moisture felt on skin).

Laneige Water Bank Double Gel Soothing Mask - plumps the skin nicely and did a decent job in moisturizing department.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermale - my savior for post-facial where plucking and needling has been done. This thing calms down redness (not immediately overnight) but quite substantially. I'm using the one by Avene now and this feels more cooling / soothing on the skin than the Avene so far I can tell.

Lavera Restoring Day Cream - Texture is just about right (fluid) and sinks in well. None of that funny business with Weleda and Dr. Hauschka.

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water - Micellar water is my greatest discovery in skincare in 2014. I know I know, y'all know how much I love micellars.

Chloe Eau de Parfum Intense - I prefer the Chloe EDP better but this Intense one is more "deep".

Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Butter - OK but not as "green" as I like.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash - Love the way it smells!!! It's creamy in texture and milky, but it lathers really well. Will buy again. This is a travel size.

Clarins Body Shaping Cream - Reviewed above.

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-oxidant Eye Serum - the formula is like an oil but is not greasy. Absorbs well and I follow this with an eye cream afterwards. But it's full of chemicals really.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum - looks brownish, absorbs well but takes a minute or two. Feels good on the skin once it settled in.

Innisfree It's Real Tea Tree Mask - This was OK, nothing to write home about.

Nature Republic Snail Therapy 1000 Hydrogel Mask Sheet - One of my highly raved sheet mask to date (see the next one below). Hugs skin closely and does a good job in moisturizing and revitalizing.

SANA Hadanomy Collagen Mask - This mask is da BOMB. Packed with so much hydration and plumping properties (collagen in the works?), face looks fresh, glowy afterwards! It's discontinued at my local stores...

Bausch & Lomb contact lens solution

TALIKA Lipocils Expert eyelash conditioning gel - This is what I've been telling my friends and everybody to use if you want to grow your lashes in a month or two. The key is consistent and diligent use every night, then watch your lashes grow and voila!!

TTFN!