June 2015 Empties/Mini Reviews

Hello hello!

Long time no blog again.... O_o|||  Hope all is well with you all!

So a lot has changed in the last month, with graduation and moving and all that. But maybe I will give that a write another time, cuz I sense this is gonna be a long post lol. Anyway! I'm obviously settled enough to be able to sit down and write a blog post ;)  By the way... I don't have my blogging camera with me... and it's kind of broken anyway -_-  so I'm not sure what to do if I want to do any kind of swatches/reviews, cuz the camera I'm using now automatically corrects tones and makes colors more vivid @_@  and I'm not really in the place to invest in a new camera. So we'll see. I love doing quick reviews on Instagram but I don't think foundation reviews are ever complete without application photos >_<

Now let's talk about the products I finished over the last few months!

1. Aveda Stress-Fix Body Lotion

I had it for a long time, but I rarely used it because I was always trying to save it for when I'm feeling extra stressed or tired LOL. I really like the lavender scent of this body lotion... it's not the fake, icky type of lavender scent that is so common among many lavender scented products. I found the scent to really be relaxing and soothing :) anyway I decided I needed to stop just hoarding my nice/expensive products and saving them for special occasions and just use them while they're still fresh LOL. Will I repurchase? Yes! But only when I'm feeling spendy... this I consider a luxury/pampering product lol. In terms of how well it moisturizes... it's decent. It gets more points in the scent department; the "moisturization" is just so-so.


2. Ryo Hair Mask

Err... forgot the name of this product. Sowee! XD  I think it contains ginseng and is supposed to smell like ginseng... but for some reason, it totally reminds me of this Chinese dessert... the red bean soup thingy


↑ This. LOL!! I swear every time I used it I wanted a bowl of red bean soup hahaha. It was a hair mask but I just used it as a conditioner. It was alright. Nothing special. I didn't purchase this it was a free gift.


3. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam

To be fair, I think it's an okay cleanser but somehow I just got so sick of the scent @_@ For some reason the scent really started to bother me. So about half way through I just started using it as a body wash so I can use it up quickly LOL. Waste not! Won't repurchase. By the way, I threw out the Rice Water Bright Cleansing Cream (please refer here) cuz it was SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS to use. Takes wayy too long to work makeup off my face (namely... my super waterproof mascaras) I officially write off cleansing balms/creams... just gonna stick with cleansing oils from now on. Oh and I also tossed out the Screen Cell Cushion.


4. Wen Lavender Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment

It was good. Can't think of anything else to add cuz I feel like I already talked about Wen too much in the past LOL. Won't repurchase.


5. DHC supplement for slimming

Bought this when I was in Japan. I can't really read Japanese but I understand this is for slimming (how though I'm not sure). I got it because I was curious as to if it actually works or not. Ummm I noticed no difference XD Didn't notice any appetite changes or anything. Nor did I notice any diarrheal effects. Hahahaha.


6. Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

This is my replacement for my favorite summer moisturizer-- Shiseido Pure Matifying Moisturizer. It's really light and great for summer! Also an awesome medium for mixing heavier creams/lotions. Will repurchase. Although since my recent move I'm now at a much drier climate... not sure if this will be enough. Currently still using Cetaphil and it works great.


7. Innisfree the Green Tea Seed Serum

I mentioned before this thing broke me out all over my face. Was gonna give it away to friends but none of them were interested lol was gonna try to sell it but it isn't the most practical cuz the shipping fees alone are ridiculous. So I used it on my body LOL. Interestingly when I used it on my body, because it's a gel formulation, I feel like after the initial moisturized feeling, my skin would actually feel dried out O_O didn't notice that when I used it on my face, but then again I didn't use it on my face for that many times and I use a lot more follow-up products on my face. For those who don't know... it's extremely fragranced... I wouldn't describe it as a herbally scent (which is usually typical of Innisfree products)... smells like a cleanser to me. 


8. Aveda Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash

My favorite body wash O_O! This was a sample gift. If you don't like mint you obviously want to stay away from this XD But it has a nice cooling effect and I just love the smell. Also it doesn't leave that residue-feeling some body washes do. Will I purchase? Ehhh too expensive. Hahaha. I'll stick with drugstore body washes and soaps.


9. Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub

To be fair I remember liking it and it is a nice and effective facial scrub. But I just prefer my St. Ives scrubs with salicylic acid treatment. So I ended up using this to scrub my underarms LOL. Ehhh TMI?  It gets kind of messy though... I have to make sure to rinse my bathroom walls/tub cuz the black stuff gets everywhere.

10. Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum

Already talked about this before. Holy grail status. Smooths away flaky skin and helps skin repair faster. Already repurchased. I don't use it every day-- only use it when I need it in case my skin gets too used to it. 


11. Evian Mineral Water Spray

Also an old product. I prefer canisters over spritz bottles cuz I found they dispense the mist more evenly. I haven't really been using mists that much as of late... may or may not repurchase.


12. Dr. Hauschka Eye Contouring Day Balm

Why this is called a day balm still mystifies me to this date. How on earth do you use this during day time??? It really is a balm... I don't know how anyone can apply makeup over this thing without it creasing/slipping off. I used it at night. It didn't do anything for me. Glad to get rid of it. Will not repurchase.


13. A'PIEU Essential Source Snail Vital Cream

Was super excited to try this but it broke me out as well... think I've mentioned that before?? Anyway so I also used it as a body moisturizer. It's a very thick clear gel formulation... kind of reminds me of sleeping masks but even thicker. Didn't smell like anything. Actually, as a body moisturizer, it wasn't bad :P  Will not repurchase obviously.


14. Innisfree Long Wear Cushion

Had a full review, as well as follow-up here. I technically haven't used it all the way up yet... but pretty close. The reason I have to toss it out is because it started to smell funny. I tried applying it on my face cuz I felt like it was such a waste XD It still performed great but it did break me out hahahahaha so it was time to go. I still love the formula and think it's an awesome cushion and I love the way it makes my skin look... but I think cushions just aren't that hygienic. However I wouldn't say I won't repurchase this though... I might :P


15. YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation

You guys are probably sick of me talking about this foundation, but it was my holy grail winter liquid foundation. It is SO GOOD. I think I've had it for a couple of years?? (Hahaha yeah not advisable... should try to finish it within 6months-1 year after opening) and I loved it for the two years that I was using it. However, I haven't missed it as much as I thought I would be O_O maybe because I could only use it for winter only anyway, but I've been using the Innisfree Smart Foundation in Super Moisture and I'm pretty darn happy with that one as well. The formulations for the two are not comparable because they're pretty different, but in terms of the finish, I think it's kind of comparable-- they both give that super nice and glowy dewy finish. Innisfree perhaps more "moist" looking than YSL. 


Sample fest!! Haha


16. Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum-- Ehh didn't do anything for me
17. Sisley Ecological Compound Emulsion-- I remember really enjoying it but I can't remember why hahahaha XD I think I liked it but not enough to splurge
18. Lunasol Moist Conditioner-- It's nice! I liked it! Very moisturizing toner. Thought about purchasing it but I already have some awesome toners that do much more than moisturizing XD
19. Obagi Vitamin C Serum (10%)-- Got the sample when I was in Japan. It's nice... and it smelled so good O_O But I've used better products for brightening lol. 


20. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque

Really good moisturizing mask if you guys are looking for something like that :) it's my staple when I'm flying long haul flights. I also apply it to the rest of my face when I apply clay masks to my nose lol. Don't think I will ever purchase the full-size product cuz this little sample/travel size lasted me quite a long time.  I would've repurchased it except I wasn't able to find the travel size the last time I looked on Amazon. 


 
21. Innisfree Skinny Microcara (brown)-- This is the none waterproof version. Will not repurchase. I prefer the waterproof version... it's easier to remove with my cleansing oils O_O Also I don't like the color of this brown mascara... it's too light... also on the red brown side. I found it just blends my lashes into my eyeliner. Not a good brown color. I think a deeper brown would've worked so much better. Anyway I have a bunch of Majolica Majorca mascaras now so I won't be repurchasing any of the Innisfree microcaras lol. To be fair, I do like the regular black waterproof skinny microcaras. Although they tend to be on the dry and clumpy side midway through the tube.

22. Integrate mascara primer-- it's decent. It definitely grew on me as I was using it, but at the same time I don't really miss it when it's gone. I prefer Majolica Majorca mascara primer. But it does the job-- holds curls and volumizes.  


23. Caudalie Premier Cru La Creme Riche sample

I enjoyed it! It's on the thicker and heavier side so I usually mix it with Cetaphil or SkinMD. It was a free sample and while I enjoyed it, I don't like it enough to splurge on the actual product. The smell reminds me of calamine lol.


24. DHC L-carnitine supplement



So I bought it because I thought it's supposed to help with more efficient metabolism... I misunderstood the picture and Kanji XD  I think it's actually intended for aging/dieting ppl to replace L-carnitine (amino acid). Haha. Uhhhh. I don't need this at all LOLLLL. I didn't have Internet with me when I bought these -_-


25. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser sample

I like! It's a really good exfoliator! My face feels super clean and nice and soft after using it. But I still prefer St. Ives hahaha XD What can I say... St. Ives is cheap and cheerful. I don't feel the need to splurge on the full size item =P


26. Aveda Shampure Shampoo

Aveda shampoos are LOVE. Enough said XD If you're new to Aveda and not sure what to try, this is a good one! It's basic and... the cheapest one XD I think this one is awesome for daily use. Have repurchased.


27. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream sample

Already talked about it on my Instagram XD So here it is

New skincare that I was testing out. It was LOVE 👍 tbh, I was never interested in first aid beauty... Simply bcuz their packaging never attracted me 😓😂 this being the "ultra repair cream" and "intense therapy" led me to think that this moisturizer should be super thick and heavy duty. To my surprise, it was so light 😳 but so effective. This is one of these moisturizers that don't do anything special, but I just love the way it applies and how my skin feels after. This sample lasted me a good 2.5 weeks 😳 (I mostly only used it at night though). Sad it was finished. This gets a big 👍 from me and is definitely something I would purchase in the future 👌PS. It contains colloidal oatmeal... No wonder it's so good 😝 I'm so oatmeal-biased hehe 😁#firstaidbeauty #sephora #beautyblogger #bblogger #review #instareview #skincare #moisturizer

A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on Jun 8, 2015 at 12:18am PDT

That's  all I have! Hope you guys enjoyed this "quick" one. Have you guys tried any exciting products as of late? I feel like there have been a lot new launches but nothing has piqued my interest.  Did I just jinx myself by saying that? LOL. Anyhow, I really ought to control my spendings anyway >_< I spent enough on the last Sephora haul as it is.

Hope you guys are enjoying the summer weather! WEAR SPF!!!!!! Lol.


<3 Frances

Sephora VIB Haul

Hello there!

I feel like I haven't blogged in so long that this whole process feels so alien to me now.... /__\ how sad is that. Kudos to bloggers, or even YouTubers who are able to keep doing what they do so consistently over the years O_O

Today I'm bringing you the details of my Sephora haul :D I spent such a ridiculous amount. Sometimes I even wonder why do I buy all this makeup??? Especially when I just keep buying essentially the same things over and over again. I only like certain textures of base makeup. I only like certain colors of lipsticks and blushes. Whenever I make the effort to buy something that's really different I don't usually use them. A lot of things on the market are just the same stuff with different packaging and marketing campaigns... so why do I fall for them... why can't I just use up whatever I have first before I buy anything new??? I guess I'm trying to spring clean my collection and it kind of frustrates me seeing a lot of the unused stuff that I have to toss out. On the bright side though, this haul consists of mainly skincare XD which a girl always needs and will always use LOL.


So this is what my haul initially looks like.

1. SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
2. SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion
3. Yves Saint Laurent ROUGE VOLUPTÉ - Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in #13 Peach Passion - vibrant peachy pink
4. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine in #14 Corail in Touch - creamy orange coral
5. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar - Matte in Nylon - classic bubblegum pink with a neon twist
6. Origins Original Skin™ Renewal Serum with Willowherb
7. Yves Saint Laurent Volupté Tint-In-Oil in Pink About Me 8
For samples, I got Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist, Guerlain Abeille Royale Face Treatment Oil, CLINIQUE Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer


In the end... this is what my haul comes down to:

I ended up with two bottles of SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion O_o , keeping the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, the Origins serum, and one lip product. Let me explain as we go :D


So first let's talk about the lip products, because to be honest, the one product I was most looking forward to was the YSL Tint in Oil... which, after much internal debate I ended up returning ~_~




So let's begin with the Tint in Oil. I got it in #8 Pink About Me. I know it looks like a purply color, but on my lips, it actually does not look purple at all. It was a really beautiful pink :) 

Freshly applied.


The stain. It looks nothing like the color on the applicator. Unfortunately I don't have any lip swatches =(


The formula of this product is quite interesting... it doesn't look pigmented at all. And when I first apply it to my lips, it really doesn't look like anything either-- it'd just look like I have a layer of clear , shiny gloss on. But as it sets, it kind of thickens up a bit (I'm not sure if thicken is the best word to describe it, please bear with my limited vocab XD) and the color turns a lot of opaque and actually shows up quite well (I have relatively pigmented lips too, so I'm impressed by the color payoff!)


So what's my problem with the tint?
The color isn't the problem.... I've tried it a number of times in store and I knew I loved the color. It's more of the fact I was disappointed with the moisturization (okay I just made up that word) and the way it stains. When I tried it in the stores I thought it felt amazing and super moisturizing. But after wearing it to work multiple times... I noticed it actually does not keep my lips moisturized. When the tint dries completely, it left my lips feeling very dried out (I was expecting a supple feeling that you get after applying lip balm...). And a little bit shriveled. I remember the first time that happened I didn't have any lip balm with me and my lips were in hell that day -_- it was so uncomfortable. Plus, I noticed the unattractive stain it left behind... let's just say the patchy colors of pink did not look pleasing at all with lip lines that were accentuated due to being dried out. I feel like I can't be too harsh about the tint part cuz I have not yet used a lip tint product where the stain wears off gracefully (YSL glossy stains don't stain so they don't count). But I would at least expect moisture from this product. Maybe it's the tint component for this product that makes the product not work out the way it's designed to. I feel like for those who actually reapply lip products consistently throughout the day probably wouldn't find this as an issue. Who knows. Another thing is... I realized I'm not really into glossy lips... at least not from the amount of glossiness this tint oil provides. I can easily look like I just had a greasy Chinese takeout XD I tried applying a tiny bit but what's the point -_- the color doesn't really show up that way. In the end, I decided this product is just not practical for me. So I kissed it goodbye (metaphorically) and took it back.



Next, onto the YSL lipsticks

From left to right: #13, #14, #15. #15 was already in my possession prior to this purchase =D


#14 was love at first sight. I would say when applied lightly, the closest thing I have that's similar to it will be the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balmstain in 040 Rendezvous. However, Revlon is definitely more neon orange, and YSL is more orange with pink. 


As for shade #13...

When I swatched it on my arm, not gonna lie I couldn't really tell the difference between #13 and #15. O_O

Note: #15 is rather sheer and that's about the opacity of 3 swipes. #15 also has a more buttery finish. 






#13 and #15 look SO similar on my arm. But when applied to my lips, #13 actually shows up darker than #15. Pretty much the color you see straight from the bullet.

#13 is a gorgeous color and I've been eying it for years. But... it just doesn't look good on me. It's too nude for my liking. And since the color is lighter than my natural lip color... I have to make sure I apply a good amount to cover my natural lip color, and I found the formula to be a bit gloopy when applied straight from the bullet. I have to smooth it out with my fingers. Not that is a big issue cuz I tend to do that with all my lipsticks anyway. There's really nothing wrong with this lipstick... I just personally prefer more color on my lips, so don't let me put you off this lipstick. For me, having #15 is enough, since the nude effect is similar anyway. Well, now I can put my fantasies of this lipstick to rest /__\ 


Now... this OCC lip tar is a completely impulsive purchase -_- saw it on a YouTuber and thought it looked so pretty... but it just looked wayyyy too barbie pink on me!







Honestly when I swatched it on my hand I thought I would love the color! But I don't know... something about it just doesn't sit right with my skin tone. Too much blue?? Oh, and the formula is REALLY drying. Another big no no.



So now onto the products I ended up keeping

You guys are no stranger to this now. I'm already half way through my current bottle and I don't think it will make it till the November VIB sale, so I decided to pick up a bottle. I actually thought about stop using this product, but here's an update: I noticed it makes the back of my hand look so much brighter and smoother O_O which... you guys can't tell the difference, but I can!!

This year I made the resolution to start better taking care of my neck and hands... ppl all say a woman's neck reveals her age... but for me, I think it's hands O_o and I have withered looking hands to begin with. So I'm making an effort here lol. I just started applying any leftover of this essence to the back of my hands... and I noticed, the very next day, how much brighter and youthful my hands look. (☆_☆) Say whaat??!?!?!? So that's why I decided to keep using it, cuz it's doing something lol!!! Shame it doesn't do the same thing to my face. 


The SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion is definitely a VERY pleasant surprise for me. By just looking at the name you would think it's designed for acne prone skin. The only reason I was interested in this product is because someone (can't remember who) claimed that this normalizes their combination skin. Like from oily to normal. So I thought I would give it a try. To be honest, I have EVERY intention to return this if it doesn't help with my oiliness. Half of my mind was already set to return this because I felt like it wouldn't work for me.

Here's the funny thing-- okay it did not work in the respect of normalizing my skin, not at all. But... holy crap, this thing makes my skin so bright, so smooth, and so much more even O___O seriously, I could not stop looking at my skin for the first week O_O Basically, everything that the Facial Treatment Essence claims and fails to do for me, this does it for me. What the what?!?!?!  DID I MENTION THE PRICE OF THIS IS WAY CHEAPER THAN THE TREATMENT ESSENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes, I intend to make you deaf if you can hear me now)

The texture of this lotion is completely different from the treatment essence. While the treatment essence just feels like water, this lotion has a slippy feeling to it. I would compare the feeling to the Estee Lauder Micro Essence and IOPE Bio Essence, but minus the stickiness-- it's not sticky at all, and it feels very moisturizing  (*´∀｀*)

Here's the most interesting thing that this Clear Lotion does for me. It actually noticeably shrinks my blackheads O___O Yes, it is noticeable. Unfortunately, it doesn't make them go away (been using it for two weeks now so I can tell you that). However, it really does help them from getting bigger and blacker... do you know what I mean??? I think those who suffer from blackheads will all know what I'm talking about. It really keeps them in check O_o it's amazing!! Here's another interesting, and may I say, hilarious part though XD For the first few days, it made my nose, so, extra, oily. LOL. Oh the irony. I'm not sure if it's because it shrank my blackheads, effectively "unplugging" my pores (ohhh thank me for me visual) so my sebum had free rein XD but for the first couple of days I was so oily it was ridiculous. But I liked how bright and smooth and even my skin looked that I didn't care and went ahead and ordered a second bottle (it was the last day of the sale O_O) Good news is the oiliness kind of slowed down after the first week. By now it's been two weeks and I feel like my skin is almost back to its baseline oiliness. Will keep you guys updated on this :D  I am so surprised and happy with this product!!  I think after I use up this bottle of treatment essence, I'm just gonna stick with this Clear Lotion (●´▽｀●)  and as you can see in the picture, it's been two weeks and I barely used any. So that's another bonus... you don't need that much of this product! I didn't know how little product I needed, but if I did I probably would have waited off till the November sale to get the second bottle. Oh well. Did I mention it's way cheaper than the facial essence again?? Hahaha.Can I say enough good things about this product???? Lol okay I'm gonna stop. I'm just too excited hehehe.


A while back this serum was all over YouTube. Albeit knowing they're all sponsored videos, I didn't care cuz I've always adored Origins and I have faith in their products so I wanted to give it a try. Wanted to use this as my daytime serum :D

Erm, to be honest, I'm still too busy being obsessed about the Clear Lotion so this product hasn't really gotten any love from me Σ(☉A⊙ｌ|ｌ) I sorry serum!!! I have tried it like 3-4 times though... the only thing I noticed was the nice, refreshing, citrus scent. I think the effect of the Clear Lotion is just too powerful that I didn't notice anything when I used this O_o  I guess we'll just have to wait any see LOL. I feel like the SK-II products I'm currently using are already "nutritious" enough for my skin so I don't want to layer too many products on top in case I break out



Other things that were on my wishlist:

Becca Perfect Skin Mineral Powder Foundation (My shade is Nude)

 
Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder (My shade is #5)


So many powder foundations on my wishlist :D  But I still haven't finished my current one and I still have a backup of the Lancome one... so gonna work on those first lol.




Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked (nude pink)-- saw it on a YouTuber and it looked sooo pretty on her! It might pull off too nude on me though... I think I've tried it in store but can't remember so that's why I held off on it lol.



Ambient Lighting Blush in  Ethereal Glow (cool pink)-- I'm still loving my AL blushes so I'm looking forward to collecting this one :D maybe in November. I wish it comes in a smaller size or in a palette.

 



Anastasia Beverly Hills Pointed Eyeliner Brush-- Ehh I don't need another eyeliner brush. But it looks interesting LOL.



Hope you guys enjoyed this haul/review! Hope it wasn't too boring... since I didn't get any of the hot and exciting new products lol. There have been so many new releases that it feels quite chaotic O_O I have checked out a lot of the new foundation releases but for some reason I'm not really inclined to try any (as in I haven't gotten any samples... what is happening?!?!!?!) Maybe because I have too many already XD


Have a great weekend  and I will see you on Instagram or my next post ^_~


<3 Frances

February 2015 Empties

Hello everybody!!

You know what it is... so I'm just gonna get right into it (so sleepy... LOL. Just waiting for my yogurt mask to sink in). Here's my empties over the last few months =)

----------------That intro was clearly written on a different day LOL-------------------

1. Caudalie Polyphenol Anti-Wrinkle Defensive Serum

Another sample... honestly I used it up so long ago I can't really remember much about it. I think I've reviewed this in another empties before. Nice but nothing exciting? 


2. Dove Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo & Conditioner 

I think drugstore wise this is my favorite line of shampoo. Smells really nice too. But since I've gone back to using Aveda... I won't be repurchasing these lol. For drugstore though I definitely recommend it =)


3. Fresh Sugar lip balm

This thing is SO OLD. It's been like this for a really long time at the bottom of my drawer lol. I just decided it's time to toss it out. I remember really liking it back then =) The color is really nice. In terms of moisturizing/nourishing properties... it's very buttery and nice but I didn't find it amazing/mind-blowingly good. This was a free birthday gift from Sephora I believe. While I enjoyed it, I will never pay the full price for this product.


4. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle "Strong" conditioner

I usually get the "Moisturize" one but I spotted this and got curious. Couldn't resist a new product =P it was good... I think the same formula as the blue/moisturize one. Won't repurchase cuz I prefer the scent of the blue/moisturize one. 



5. LUSH "Big" Sea Salt Shampoo

I believe it also comes in a shampoo bar form, which I've also tried before. They're the same thing and I got the same experiences/results. Already did a review on Instagram so here it is

Review: LUSH "BIG" Sea Salt Shampoo. I'm not sure why but with sea salt shampoos, I noticed I only get good results when I use this very sparingly. My hair would feel fluffy, voluminous and weightless. However when I use it consecutively (like if I use it two days in a row), then the second day the result is just like my any other typical drugstore shampoo. Weird. Anyway so I only use this occasionally. I'm very 50/50 abt this product... Like I won't mind repurchasing and using it again, but I won't feel sad to do without it. For the price however, most likely won't repurchase 😆 also one thing I really hate is the container. No matter how tightly I screw the lid, it always gets loose and water would get in there. Really annoying 😒 #lush #seasaltshampoo #seasalt #shampoo #review #hair #beautyblogger

A photo posted by Frances (@bbudgie) on Nov 8, 2014 at 9:12pm PST

6. LUSH Fresh Face Mask

LOL. I was clearly obsessed with them hahaha. You can see that BB seaweed is my favorite :) The only one I don't have here is the Cosmic Warrior. I did purchase that one, but after using it two times, I just gave up. It smelled DISGUSTING. I kept feeling like I have bad/rotten garlic on my face. ME NO LIKE. I had to take it back and exchange it... I felt so bad /__\ I consider myself having high threshold for unpleasant scents but I just could not deal with the garlic one. Anyway, the ones I would probably repurchase besides BB seaweed would be Ayesha, Love Lettuce, and the Sacred Truth.


7. SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Finally used up my 330ml bottle. If you want to see my past thoughts on this product... just go to the label section and look under SK-II, you will be able to find all of them lol. I clearly lied when I said in my last empties that I won't repurchase, cuz I did LOL. But to be completely honest, it's more of a psyche thing. It doesn't do much for me. I'm using it for preventative/anti-aging purposes. I feel safer having this... if that makes any sense? XD as a child I always saw my grandma using rice water to wash her face... and she had beautiful skin. So I really believe in the power of rice XD I tried using rice water to cleanse my face but it was so. much. hassle. -_- sense of security sure comes at a hefty price tag... LOL -_-"


8. Shu Uemura Depsea Water Facial Mist (Lavender)

I wonder if it's meant to say "deep sea water"??? LOL. Anyway, this product is OLD as well (haha prob shouldn't have tried to use it up but it smells fine XD). I got it in a value set ages ago. It was my second bottle.  I LOVE the scent of this... it's not the kind of gross lavender scent you get from some products, very relaxing. But otherwise it's just water and nothing special.  Anyway, while I enjoyed it, I for sure would not spend $25 on this... Just get Evian or Avene or something. They do the same thing and are much cheaper (minus the lavender scent though lol).


9. Chloe Perfumed Body Lotion

Sorry if the bottle looks nasty. This was a free sample size that I got from Sephora. This sample was the reason why now I'm obsessed with the Chloe perfume XD I got a new full size of this lotion in a value set from Nordstrom =D but I haven't used it yet haha. Think I will just stick to the perfume from now on (if I don't get tired of it that is lol) cuz I feel like having the lotion is kind of overkill.... aka too luxurious XD



10. REM Micro Polish Cleanser

Honestly when I saw this in my "empties bag"... I was like... huh??? Did I use this??? LOL. But then I remembered! I ended up using this to scrub my underarms (aka armpits... underarms sound so much nicer HAHAHA) to prevent ingrown hairs after epilating. So in short, good and effective, but too harsh for the face for my liking. If you think St. Ives scrubs are harsh, then for sure you wouldn't like this.


11. Shiseido Pureness Matifying Moisturizer

Used to be my favorite moisturizer for the summer =) super light, watery gel consistency. But after I discovered the SkinMD moisturizer, which in my opinion is very similar to this, just gonna stick with SkinMD instead cuz it's much cheaper =D Don't get me wrong I still think this is a good product especially if you have oily skin and just want something super super light, but it's just not that cost-effective for me.



12. SK-II Skin Signature moisturizer and Cellumination Deep Surge EX

These are super old as well... and the reason why I only used them up now is because I forgot about them -__-" I actually bought these sample size jars from Sasa.com a long long time ago. I remember trying out the Skin Signature and it broke me out in red little bumps all over my face (usually happens when a skincare is too rich for me I believe). Tried the Cellumination one and same thing. Was gonna try and sell them but that never happened lol so it they were just sitting in my drawer. Anyway I ended up mixing them with my body moisturizers XD heyyy why not. Might as well get my money's worth (not really... but you know XD) I loved it when I used the cellumination one on my body O_o I can definitely feel my skin much smoother and hydrated when I used that one. Can't tell the difference from the Signature one. Anyway, since these don't work for my face, I'm obviously not planning on purchasing the full size items. Maybe I will revisit them in 5-10 years or something lol. 


13. Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Edge Meister Mascara and Innisfree Skinny Microcara (Waterproof)

Edge Meister-- Y'all know Majolica Majorca makes my favorite mascaras... but this isn't my favorite from them. Reason being it's packed full of fibers and I found that with fiber-rich mascaras, as they start drying out (as you keep using them... not because the caps don't screw tight lol)... the fibers just kind of stick out and poke my eyes. This mascara is no exception. Will I repurchase? Well... I did. A LOT of them O_o but it was because they were on sale for 15% off!!! And usually MJ mascaras don't ever go on sale!! So I went cray cray even though they're not my favorite haha. Did a review if you guys want to see this mascara in action. I neither recommend or not recommend this mascara... depends on how you feel about fiber mascaras.


Innisfree-- I actually used up two of those, but I have no idea where the other one went O_O must have tossed it out by accident. Anyway, since I did use up 2 of them, obviously I repurchased XD I liked it a lot initially... but I noticed as these dry up, they get quite clumpy. Really not the most flattering look. I guess I don't mind this particular mascara... the lengthening/volume are quite impressive... but I just don't like the formula as I make it half way through the tube. I think it's worth checking out, and I am currently working on using another one up, but I'm not planning on repurchasing. Oh by the way, no curl hold.


14. Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream

It's quite thick and you can see it contains some oils because as you squeeze out the product, you can see a bit of the separation. I enjoyed it but I think I just got tired of it toward the end lol. It was nice though =) Really good for winter. Not planning on repurchasing. 



15. GlamGlow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment

Little sample I got from Sephora. Talked about it before if you want to check that post out. It exfoliates well, does nothing to extract blackheads, but makes the bumpiness of my nose (from blackheads) smoother. I liked it, but you all know what I think about GlamGlow... wayy over-priced. $69? You've gotta be kidding me.



16. Albion Skin Conditioner, Eclafutur, Exage Moist Crystal Milk

Albion Skin Conditioner-- You all know how I feel about this toner so not gonna elaborate. LOVE. Not a toner person but still get a high from using this every morning XD

Eclafutur-- This to me, I think is kind of like the Clinique Smart Serum that I raved about. Got these samples when I was in Japan, and I wish wish WISHED that I had tried it then =( cuz I would've gone back to purchase the full size bottle. My skin was visibly smoother, brighter and plumper the next day after using it. And I noticed it helped with healing as well (which is why it reminded me of the Clinique Smart Serum). The only thing though is I don't know if it helps smooth out flakiness, which is the main reason why I am smitten with the Clinique Smart Serum. And price point wise I think it's wayy more expensive than Clinique. This to me is a luxurious product... if I can ever get it at this low Japanese currency... I will pick it up. But I'm not gonna go out of my way to purchase it (I had ample of opportunities to purchase it while I was in Taiwan but the price was so inflated... so... NO).

Exage Moist Crystal Milk-- it's called a "milk", which kind of leads you to think it's a moisturizer, but it's not. I think this is one of the best selling products from Albion. This is supposed to be an enhancer... or something. Kind of like Lancome Genifique-- you apply it after toner, and before everything else. It's supposed to help prep your skin, help all other products penetrate your skin much deeper and thus more effective. Honestly... felt no difference XD But it was only two samples, who knows. It'd be such a splurge if I do purchase it, but I'm not really convinced of the necessity of it. 



More Skin Conditioner


And more LOL. Told you the Albion MUA gave me so many samples. =)


17. Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Body Wash.

I like =) I didn't repurchase this particular scent but I got the grapefruit one. I think as far as drugstore goes, this is pretty good. Doesn't dry out my skin, but it also isn't moisturizing to the point that you feel like there's a layer of residue.


18. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate

I bought this because Pixiwoo always use it LOL. It smells very pharmaceutical. Emm... it really didn't blow me away. I think it's really nice for the winter. I can see why dry skin ppl would love it, but it's just okay for me. This thing is old too... I ended up using it as a body moisturizer as well XD


19. Banila Co. Clean It Zero

Little sample as well. Of all the cleansing balms I've tried (wait actually, have I even tried anything else other than REN?? I think the other stuff I tried were cleansing creams not balms LOL) this is probably the only one I would consider purchasing/recommend. But since I prefer cleansing oils. I won't purchase. Smells nice, effective. And I would think it's quite affordable! =)


20. Majolica Majorca Mascara Primer, Innisfree Skinny Microcara (not waterproof)

Oops, should've grouped this with the other mascara products. Oh well lol.

Majolica-- Fav mascara primer.

Innisfree-- Got this thinking it'd shorten my makeup removal process. WRONG. Since it's none-waterproof... it refuses to come off with cleansing oils. Well it does come off eventually... but that's with extra extra EXTRA massaging. Gawd such a pain in the ass. I ended up just using my cleansing oil to remove everything else, then hop into shower and let the warm water do its job. But then since I have mascara primer underneath... I have to pay extra attention to wash my eye area with my facial cleanser to make sure there is no residue. My regret purchase lol. Should've just stuck with the WP version.


21. Za Ever Brows

Yay!!! Finally used it up =DDDDD Well you can see I have a teeny tiny bit of product left, but it's to the point that the plastic part scrapes against my brows when I try to fill them in, so it's time for it to retire =D first brow product I've ever used up!! So excited XD Prob wouldn't be my first brow product to use up if I hadn't make a conscious effort to though. Liked it. Worth checking out. Not my fav. Review here.




22. Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner

So... I didn't use up this product per se... It dried out on me =________________________= I prob got less than 20 uses out of it... what a waste. I think I mentioned on my Instagram that for a liquid/pen eyeliner, I was impressed by its lasting power. I still think it was good for a liquid pen standard, but as I tried it out more, it started smudging out on me more. Don't know how it managed the minimal smearing the first few times I tried it =/ anyway. I know some ppl absolutely love this product. To each and their own. If you've never had smudging problems with liquid pen eyeliners, then you will probably like this (I wouldn't say love cuz it's on the drier side... it wipes off when repeated lined... and the color is not very opaque/intense). I just ended up using it to line my upper lash line. To me, huge waste of money, cuz Clio is on the more expensive side for drugstore. Regret.


 Whew! I actually didn't think I had that many products, but I guess I did LOL. I thought I'd be able to just breeze through this mini review/empties post, but man it took a lot longer than I thought. I hope you guys enjoyed it and it was helpful to some of you. Until my next post, take care, stay warm, and be safe everyone ^_~


<3 Frances