A Comeback With Mid-March Empties

It’s been a while, and it’s been a ride! After this long break I’m back here as I miss writing and sharing my thoughts.

It’s only the middle of March, but I’ve saved a bunch of finished products so far, and I decided to do a post them now. So here the goodies (and some less good ones) are:

 -100% Pure Caffeine Mask (5pack): I have hate/love relationship with 100% Pure products. Some of them I enjoyed a lot, the others I liked less or didn't like too much, but for some reason there were very few that I bought again. Most of my misses were with makeup as the colors don't match what I see on the screen, and it's hard to find swatches online. However, the brand offers amazing return policy. Back to the caffeine mask... I have a full review in my earlier post, and my opinion didn't change after using 5 more. The mask is nice while being used, and the skin feels plump and soft for the rest of the day, but the effect is only one-time, and doesn't last.
-Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum: This one (as well as some other Eminence products) was on my wishlist for a while. It smells divine! Though the most important thing is the results, right? The serum has thick-ish pink gel-like texture, applies to the skin easily and dries quickly. I used it both morning and night, and quite a lot of times I used only the serum at night (I did apply face cream on top of the serum in the mornings). My skin is normal-dry, a bit sensitive, but this serum didn't irritate it, and gave enough moisture even without layering it with additional skincare products. I didn't see any obvious changes in my skin, but I enjoyed using the serum, and I was happy with the moisture it gave my skin. Would I buy it again? Yes! Although not right away as currently I use another serum from Eminence, and there are few others in my wishlist.  

-Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water (200ml): I haven't used many micellar waters, and there doesn't seem to be a wide variety of natural/organic ones in the USA, but Caudalie micellar cleansing water is my favorite so far! It doesn't irritate my eyes or skin, removes even the toughest makeup, and lasts pretty long. Besides, I love convenience of the pump. This micellar water is sold by Sephora and other stores as well, but I included a UK based store, because of the price difference. Naturisimo.com ships worldwide for free, and often offers coupon codes (mostly 10%), but even without a code this product is cheaper than on other websites. I purchased Caudalie micellar water from Sephora a few times until I saw it on Naturisimo, and the last time I got it I used 10% coupon code saving about 30% from the retail price at Sephora (not including sales tax). Since micellar water is part of my skincare routine now, it's easy to plan and buy it in advance cheaper (more money for other purchases!!!).  

-Dickinson Witch Hazel Toner: Witch Hazel toner has been part of my skincare for as long as I can remember. It's believed to be more suitable for combination/oily skin, but it is good for all skin types, and it doesn't dry or irritate my skin. I've used a bunch of Thayer's witch hazel toners, but switched to Dickinson as it is more accessible (I find it in my local Walgreens). When traveling I use Dickinson witch hazel towelettes due to convenience, but I think I prefer the liquid form. (Note: use code PIL356 on Iherb.com to save $5 off your first order! You also get 10% loyalty credit off your purchase amount to use on your next order.)    

-Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray: I don't remember where I got this spray from anymore (I'm pretty sure it was some gift with purchase at Sephora). I'm not a fan of makeup setting sprays as I'm happy with how my makeup stays on through the day without a spray. In fact, the sprays make my skin feel tight, uncomfortable, and, to tell the truth, I see no difference in makeup wear. That might be because I wear little makeup, and it's in dry form. All Nighter spent an eternity on my makeup counter, and finally it's time to get rid of it as I'm not using it and not planning to.

-Equaline nail polish remover: I'm not even looking for a link for it as it's one of CVS brands. I haven't noticed a difference for my nails when using more natural, acetone-free, and other good-for-you nail polish removers, so I keep using the regular CVS remover due to convenience. P.S. If you want a better option for your nails, go with Zoya's nail polish remover - it gets rid of any nail polish like magic.

-Madre Labs Citrus Squeeze Shampoo: This bottle is endless, and i mean ENDLESS! When eyeing, it doesn't look so big, but it contains an unbelievable amount of product. I was trying to finish it for a few months - it was a task! As for the shampoo itself, I liked it, but not as much that I would buy it again. It's a shampoo that doesn't excite me even though the hair does look good using it. I used to love Madre Labs shampoos from a while ago ("strawberry oasis" was one of those I repurchased), but the new one is just ok if compared to the other ones.

-Dolce & Gabbana Rosa Excelsa Fragrance: Did you notice how roses dominate fragrance market this spring? Recently I used up a few of my perfumes, so I'm looking for something new, and while roses are not my choice in perfumes/skincare/bodycare, I decided to give Rosa Excelsa a try. The rose notes didn't bother me, and I kinda liked the fragrance, but it wasn't THE perfume for me. I guess I'll keep on looking...     

-Living Nature Summer Bronze Pressed Powder: This bronzer was too dark, too orange-y for my skin tone. I never really tan, so I want a more natural looking bronzer. I'm also not a big bronzer user, and use it mostly for contouring. So when this bronzer didn't satisfy me, I put it deep in my makeup drawer, and forgot about it. I was tempted to get rid of it, but felt bad about throwing out a new product. However, last summer I got my tan, and decided to try it for my cheeks. Surprisingly I liked the result, and kept using it until now. I learned to play with the bronzer and other products to make it soft and light on my winter skin. However, I'm still not loving it, and was super excited to check the expiration date (which actually is 18 months after opening the product) - the bronzer is going to trash!

-Tom's of Maine Propolis Myrrh Toothpaste: I like Tom's of Maine toothpastes, and keep using them for a while now. I do switch up among few brands, but I keep repurchasing this one.

-Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara: I got a mini size from Naturisimo.com. Mascara is one product that I haven't really switched to natural/organic, because I haven't found one to fully satisfy me. I want big, bold, full lashes that wouldn't look fake, but would be noticeable. Longest Lash doesn't give me that. The brush is huge, but I could live with that if the result was what I'm looking for. The mascara does lengthen my lashes, but it doesn't thicken them, and looks too natural and not very noticeable, and I can't layer it. For this reason I'm moving on to the next mascara in my makeup drawer...

-Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara: Yes yes yes! This one's a winner! I did have a mini size (I love that as I use my mascaras for 3-4 months and never go through the regular tube by then), This mascara gave me all I wanted, and was easy to layer for a more dramatic effect. My lashes were full, thick, and nicely arranged!