Empties/Mini Reviews of March 2013

What's up people!! =D

Hello hello!! Welcome back to my blog XD I'm actually on spring break now... you would think I would take advantage of it and crank out a few posts XD But actually been too busy watching Scandal and Revenge XD Boy they've been taking up way too much time =_= Especially Revenge. I'm only almost done with season one... I've been really trying to finish it because once school starts again I know I wouldn't have time. Sometimes I get headaches from watching too many episodes in a day XD Plus... I don't know I feel like I'm just slowly phasing out of my makeup craze... O_O and I found I've not been as excited about blogging as I used to be. I used to watch beauty channels religiously too but now I just watch a few... mostly out of boredom, not excitement X_X  I guess a lot of it is because a lot of Youtube videos have gone so commercial these days I just don't enjoy them anymore. Oh wells. Wait how did I get into all this ranting? lolol. Anyway today I bring you an empties/review post =D Honestly a lot of things products I finished A LONG TIME AGO but I just never got around to writing about them. Most definitely did not use up all these products just in this month.


1. Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner


So, I only came to know about Aveda because my cousins are nuts about them. I kind of have a love-hate relationship with Aveda shampoos and kind of regretted that I ever decided to try it -_- because ever since I started using Aveda, I COULD NOT go back to using drugstore shampoos (until very recently... which I will talk about in the next post). Aveda shampoos are so freaking expensive, but they clean my hair so well and do not leave residue at all. After I used up my first Aveda shampoo (Pure Abundance Volumizing Clay shampoo), I tried switching back to drugstore, but then I started to feel the build-up in my scalp to the point I just had to switch back. So freaking expensive. And before Aveda, drugstore shampoos worked just fine for me =_= so anyway there's my little story.

For the rosemary shampoo, I really like it for minty and cooling sensation. For the conditioner, I absolutely do NOT recommend it cuz it does NOTHING. It was such a waste of money. I had to use SO much just to detangle my hair and even that it still leaves my hair feeling dry. In fact I would say if you ever want to try Aveda hair products, just try the shampoo and skip the conditioners.

Ingredients for the shampoo:


Ingredients for the conditioner:


2. Aveda Rosemary Mint Body Lotion


This is another meh product. Honestly I've tried a number of expensive body lotions and they're all the same to me-- they all don't do very much. But I've recently discovered a good one which I will talk about in the next post as well :D

My conclusion for this-- if you're a natural product freak, you might like it. As much as I enjoy natural, environmental-conscientious products... I don't care for this.


3. Essential Honey & Shea Butter... er.. conditioner? hair mask?

Another product I don't really care for LOL. I mean it was nice while it lasted, but I didn't feel like this conditioner/hair mask is particularly conditioning... I can use this all over my head and it wouldn't make my hair greasy/weigh it down. In fact I didn't feel like this is any more nourishing than my regular conditioners O_O

3. Clarins High Definition Body Lift


This is what it claims to do:
"A body cream for the hips, thighs, and buttocks that prevents and corrects stubborn cellulite while smoothing, firming, and redefining."

My experience? Don't bother. It does not do what it claims. I have cellulite on my hips/thighs and butt and I didn't see it improve anything.


Actually bought this when I was desperately trying to lose weight... somehow I heard about how this helps with slimming. Complete waste of money (just shows you how desperate I was LOL). Interestingly enough I did recognize one pharmacological active ingredient on the ingredients list, which is mannitol. Mannitol is actually an osmotic diuretic... and what is does is that it pulls water into your vasculature so excess water can be eliminated through urination. So I suppose this is why ppl say it has slimming effects? that it gets rid of water retention??? But honestly... I understand water retention in my face... but I don't think I will be able to notice the difference of water retention in my body/limbs =_=... I mean seriously... unless you have peripheral edema or something (which cannot be corrected by using mannitol anyway)... who would say "oh look! my body is so bloated today from water retention!" -_-???

Aside from that, caffeine is pretty high on the list, which I assume is used to help promote circulation?





Conclusion, it is not slimming, nor does it correct cellulite.

4. Pond's Cleansing Oil

It's a nice, cheap drugstore cleansing oil. But it's not strong enough for remove my MAC liquidlast eyeliner without some additional rubbing XD I like Shu Uemura much better. I do have another one and I don't mind using the other one up, but I don't think I will be repurchasing.



5. Carmex Healing Lotion

LOL had to cut it in 3 halves so I could get all the product XD anyway nothing spectacular-- I bought it because Carmex lip balms are amazing so I was hoping this would be amazing, and it's not XD just an average body lotion.



6. Genifique Youth Activating Eye Concentrate

This was a free sample from my Lancome purchase. Honestly while I was using it I didn't feel/see a difference. It wasn't until I've used it up and switched to my L'Occitane eye cream did I realize this Lancome eye cream did really keep my under-eye hydrated.... after I stopped using it, I started noticing my fine lines underneath my eyes more TOT it's like it didn't correct my fine lines, but I guess it kept them at bay... and now I'm not using this eye cream I feel like my fine lines are getting worse T_T So I might consider purchasing the full-size. But honestly if I have that money I want to try the Bobbi Brown eye cream first... heard that one is really good.

7. Biotherm White D-Tox Neo-Clarifying Velvety-milky lotion

A sample that I received from a purchase as well. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but I don't think I will be purchasing the full-size. It was light (like a lot of Japanese moisturizer with a milky texture) and surprisingly very hydrating.



8. Origin's Dr. Andrew Weil Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Treatment Lotion

Not sure why it's called lotion when it's a toner... oh well. If you guys been following my blog for a while you'll know I cannot live without the Mega Mushroom facial cleanser. Since I'm not much of a toner user... I liked it and I don't mind using it but I won't be purchasing the full size. I don't think it's as amazing as the cleanser :P



9. Fancl Washing Powder, Lotion and Milky Lotion

So I wanted to try Fancl products for the longest time because I liked the idea of no added preservatives. The proportion was pretty good I did manage to use up everything around 30 days except for the washing powder (I only wash my face with face wash at night... so assuming if you wash your face twice a day you should be able to get through it in time).

Honestly... using preservative-free products didn't make me feel any different lol. Of course I have no idea if it'd make any difference in the long run, but I decided it's over-rated. At first I really liked the washing powder-- it's SO gentle, but at the same time cleanses well that I loved it (my face never feels dried out after using it). But after a while using the foaming ball just became such a pain in the ass =____= and you do have to use the foaming ball to lather up the washing powder-- I tried lathering the powder up in my hands, and it did not work at all XD As for the toner and the lotion, they feel exactly like the Hada Labo toner and moisturizers... only slightly thinner texture and maybe a bit more moisturizing. But honestly, the difference isn't all that big. I enjoyed them and I'm glad I tried them, but I won't be repurchasing any either.

10. Shiseido Pureness Mattifying Moisturizer

I've mentioned it a few times already so I'm gonna be brief-- this IS my favorite moisturizer for the summer-- very light and refreshing. Doesn't control oil (when it says mattifying, it doesn't give that sheen after you apply skincare, but it doesn't control oil or anything). I will be repurchasing this for the summer if nothing else catches my eye ^_^

11. Korres Lip Butter in Guava

Have mentioned this before too so I'll be brief-- it's good but it leaves a white cast on the lips. It is NOT transparent. So I don't recommend and will not repurchase.

12. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

Errr couldn't feel any difference while I used it. But then again with Lancome Genifique concentrate I didn't notice a difference until my skin became problematic... so who knows *shrugs* but if I have to choose between Estee Lauder and Lancome I'd go for Lancome.


13. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

I know Clinique is pretty much hit or miss. I personally love Clinique (have very fond high school memories/experiences). This is a very light and nice moisturizer. Not enough for winter but I loved it for the days I just wanted something light.

Okay that's all folks! Hope you found something interesting in this post... Will be working on another post soon... hopefully tomorrow. Now I must catch up with some school work >_<

Stay well everyone!