October Empties

It's that time of the month again! Let's go through my empties and see what I think about each product.

It was a good masking month and I've used up a bunch of sheet masks. I've finished a bunch of Leaders 7 Wonders sheet masks (link) and I have many more to go. I love this line of masks and I enjoy using them. I've also used Leaders Breakup with Your Ex-Skin Cells exfoliating mask (link) and it was ok, but nothing special.

Another sheet mask brand that I love is Biobelle, so of course I enjoyed using their #Primer mask* (link). It hydrates skin, makes it soft and glowing.

I didn't know that Avene makes sheet masks until I received one in my October's BeautyFix box. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this Soothing Sheet Mask (link). I'm used to sheet masks soaked in serum, but this one was full of gel and felt different from the rest. It felt very nice and calming on my skin. The skin was left super soft, hydrated and very even in color. I would gladly use this mask again and I'm planning to get it in the future when my current mask supplies get lower.

I like all Pacifica face washes, so Quinoa Sensitive one (link) was no exception. It was gentle on the skin, removed makeup well and lasted long. It felt like it's lasting longer than other Pacifica face cleansers that I've tried.

I didn't like Acure Pore Minimizing Facial Scrub (link) and used it up as body scrub. This scrub is gentle, but does the job. However, the scent bugged me and since a tiny amount is needed for use, I just couldn't think of using it on my face for eternity.

I love the scent of neroli, so I was excited to get Russell Neroli Phyto Toner (link). It did smell good, but it didn't feel special. No need to say that I'm not going to repurchase this one.

I also finished deluxe samples of Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist (link) and Freeze Frame Beauty Essence (link) from Saturday Skin. I love the packaging, but none of the products impressed me with performance. The mist had a very nice and fine spray though.

I've used up my second sample of BareMinerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion (link). I enjoyed this serum a lot and since it has a thicker texture, it can be used both as a light moisturizer during warmer months and as a serum under creams during colder months.

This was my second Caudalie Vine Activ Discovery Kit (link). Actually, I've finished serum and moisturizer from this set and I'm still using eye cream. I used both products as my moisturizers with different serums underneath. I'm still unsure how I feel about Caudalie, because the products and their scents don't excite me, but I keep coming back to them when I want something basic and simple.

I've enjoyed using Mojo Spa Lip-A-Luscious lip scrub* (link), but I'm getting rid of whatever is left as it's a huge pot and I'm not a fan of dipping my fingers into a product. I was ok with that in the beginning, but after a while I get nervous about what gets in the pot from my fingers even when I wash hands before using it. Anyway, the product was nice, tasted and smelled great and did the job. It would leave lips super soft.

No matter what my eye cream promises, I look for hydration first and It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream (link) did that perfectly. It was rich enough, but didn't feel heavy on the skin and it left undereyes hydrated and soft.

Ogee Sculpted Lip Oil* (link) was a great lip balm. The packaging was cute and the lip balm was good on my lips. It had a slight minty flavor. I have a whole review on Ogee and its products.

I barely ever cut my product tubes, but I did that with Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment  (link). By cutting the package, I got one more application of this mask. It felt nice on the skin, dried quickly, but didn't feel uncomfortable on the skin and it was easy to wash off. I also had a sample of Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment (link), which I used as a wash off mask. I'm not sure how I feel about it and I'm leaning towards not liking it, but I might give it a chance and try using a few other ways as I have one more sample left.

I love Burt's Bees lip balms, but I didn't like something about the taste of the Replenishing one (link). I tried using it, but can't force myself to do it, so I'm getting rid of it. I've used plenty of Burt's Bees lip balms in the past and I'm currently using one, so one bad one will not stop me from enjoying the products.

Arcona Cranberry Gommage Exfoliant (link) came in October's BeautyFix box. The scent is nice, but strong, so it might not be the best choice for those sensitive to fragrances. It was good enough for one use only and it did the job, but I wasn't impressed enough to purchase full size.

Another product that I received in one of BeautyFix boxes is MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tintd Cream SPF30 (link). It felt too silicone-y for my liking, but it was great to use first thing in the morning. I would apply it before even washing my face and would go walk he dogs and once back home I would wash my face and proceed with my regular skincare routine.   

I can't believe I finished Natura Siberica Oblepikha Shower Gel* (link). This brand is very inexpensive, but offers great products. This shower gel not only smelled amazing, but also left skin hydrated and soft. It didn't dry or irritate the skin.

I like Hello toothpastes, but Sensitivity Relief (link) was just ok. I wasn't a fan of the taste also. I've had whitening one in the past and currently I'm using bubble gum flavored from kids line and mojito one and I prefer all 3 over this sensitivity one.

Nails Inc Sole Healer Food Peel (link) is the biggest disappointment. It has cute design, but apart from that it did nothing (not even a tiniest peel). I've had some inexpensive ones from Asian brands and they all worked, but this one was a waste of money. I even intentionally waited longer to get my pedicure in case this peel started working, but nothing.

When I need to be 100% sure that my deodorant works, I choose Secret Clinical Strength (link). I got so hooked on this product that I've been using it for about 1.5 years. With weather cooling down I want to go back to using my natural deodorant (nothing better than Meow Meow Tweet) and keeping Secret for special occasions or for going out.

I used to use Eos Shave Cream (link) in the past and remember only goods things about it, so I got it again. It didn't disappoint me and I enjoyed how it did the job and made my legs hydrated. 
  
Another month, another Alba Botanica Acnedote Face & Body Scrub (link) in my empties. It's my must have product for legs.

I've mentioned Sweetspot Labs Vanilla Blossom gentle wash (link) in my previous blog post. It's a great feminine care product, but it also works nice as a full body wash. It would keep the skin moist and soft.

I've finally finished Live Clean Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo* (link). It was heavier than what I prefer for my fine hair, but it didn't make the hair look greasy or weighted down. I would use this shampoo 1-2 times a week. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing either.

I still can't forget Less Is More shampoo from the same line as it was unbelievably great on my hair, but Lindengloss Conditioner* (link) was just so so. It wasn't very hydrating, it wasn't very detangling or nourishing, so I was really using it just to use it up. The Lindengloss shampoo was fantastic and I would repurchase it if I found it available.

When I was looking for a blue shampoo and conditioner, I had no problem finding a bunch of options for shampoos, but not for conditioners. Since I settled on shampoo from the same line, I picked up Oribe Bright Blonde Conditioner (link) as well. It smells very nice (just like other Oribe products). The shampoo is much darker in color than conditioner which is paler. I don't use shampoo on my ends, so I specifically wanted a purple conditioner for getting any brassiness off my ends. While it works well for that, this conditioner as well as shampoo feels very drying. I would only use it mixed with another conditioner or hair mask. 

I'm into gel manicures currently, so I went trough my nail polish collection and cut it in half. While doing so I came across two nail polishes that are so old that they need to be tossed away. Sephora by OPI in Arm Candy is the color that started my whole collection. This beautiful bright pink is perfect both for manicures and pedicures and I've worn it so many time. Another beautiful color that I have to toss out due to changing color is OPI Tickle My France-y.

I usually don't keep samples for my empties, but I wanted to mention both of these foundation as I really enjoyed using them. The first one is Fenty Beauty (link), which applied beautifully and made skin matte, but not flat looking. It is probably best for normal, combo and oily skin as it tends to accentuate any dryness or deep wrinkles/lines on the skin. The other foundation is Too Faced Born This Way (link). It has a very good staying power and looks natural on the skin.   

I like Buxom lip glosses and have a bunch of them. Berry Blast (link) is a very bright color and I tend to use it as a topper for other bright pink/magenta/fuschia lipsticks in the summer. That combo is gorgeous.

I'm cleaning out my lip product collection and getting rid of Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Blossom Lady (link). The shade is very subtle on the lips, but it is very beautiful and very wearable. I'm giving this one away just because I never reach for it as I don't like that natural/clay taste. I also prefer more pigmented lip products.

I never use lip or ye liners, but somehow I decided that I need to have a clear lip pencil just in case. Well, I got Maybelline Color Sensational Clear Lip Liner (link), used it a few times and kept in my makeup drawer without touching. I know myself and I know my habits, so I know I'm not going to use it ever again.

I used up two eyebrow pencils. I lost count of how many Sante Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde (link) I've used. It's one of my favorite brow products and I will continue repurchasing it. The other one is from Lily Lolo (link). This dual sided pencil has color on one end and highlighter on the other end. I didn't like the highlighter part as it was not blendable and didn't look the way I like, but I really enjoyed the color side. The pencil was soft, but it was easy to work with. The color was nice too. However, since I only use half of the product and it didn't last long due to its creaminess I'm not going to repurchase this one as I have better eyebrow products available.

It's my second Vapour Illusionist Concealer (link), but I don't think I'll get it again. I only use concealers to brighten my undereye area. This one was good for that, but it didn't give much coverage otherwise. It didn't crease, didn't oxidize, didn't change throughout the day and looked natural. I'm sad that I still had about 1/2 of it left when it broke from off base. 

I really liked CoverGirl Total Teaze mascara (link), but I prefer more volume, so I won't repurchase this. It was a very nice mascara, which gave volume, length and separation. It's just that it wasn't enough volume for me.

Dr. Bronners Rose Pure Castile Liquid Soap (link) is a multi use product that I mainly used to wash my brushes and makeup sponges. It smells great and comes in a big variety of scents.
 



* marks PR samples received complimentary

My Shower Routine

A few months ago I did a post about the products I use in my shower and today I'll do an updated post on my shower routine. While I wash my hair in the shower as well, this article will concentrate on body care only.

Alba Botanica Acnedote Face & Body Scrub (link): I've been using this scrub for years and I always keep a backup. This scrub is liquidy and has dark color, but it doesn't mess up the shower and is easy to wash off. It's gentle on the skin, but does its job. I've never really used it on my face and usually only apply it on my thighs.

Brooklyn Botany Avocado Scrub* (link) and Blueberry Scrub* (link): Let me start by telling how good all Brooklyn Botany products smell. Both of these scrubs have nice scent, but I prefer the blueberry one - it really smells like fresh blueberries and sugar! Avocado scrub has a more subtle scent and reminds me of salted butter. Other than that, both scrubs are great and feel very similar on the skin. They are salt based scrubs and the salt is very finely milled. The texture reminds of damp salt and oils are infused in the salt (oil doesn't separate from the salt when not being used). My skin is left very soft and hydrated after using this products. It does leave a little bit of film on the skin, but it is comfortable and not oily at all. This scrub is gentle on the skin, but it can be mixed with shower gel to give extra gentle exfoliation. It can also be used as hand scrub. I love it for that purpose before doing my manicure.

Pacha Soap Co Whipped Soap + Scrub in Vanilla Almond (link): I've picked up this product at Whole Foods recently and I'm in love. It has a very nice, but pretty strong smell while in the container. However, once in the shower, the smell isn't as strong. This texture is like a thick paste, so a little goes a long way. It's a big jar, so it should last for a really long time. This product functions both as a body wash and a body scrub. The exfoliating particles are really small and gentle, but they do the job. I use this product all over the body and it's especially great when I'm in a rush and have no time to apply scrub and shower gel separately.

SweetSpot Labs Gentle Wash in Vanilla Blossom (link): This wash is pH balanced, gynecologist tested and recommended, so it's a great feminine care product, however, it's gentle enough for whole body. I use it all over my body as a hydrating shower gel. It feels very creamy , but the texture is runny. It leaves skin hydrated and very soft. I also love the smell which reminds me of vanilla milkshake.

Korres Showergel in Mulberry Vanilla (link): The scent of this shower gel is amazing and it was part of the reason why I picked this one. The shower gel is gentle on the skin, leaves it hydrated and soft.

Bar Soap: As you can see, my bar soap is still in the wrapper. That's because I stop using this kind of body wash during the cold months. I like using bar soaps during the summer, but once the weather cools down, my body skin gets dryer, so I try to use more moisturizing body washes and heavier body moisturizers. Once the spring returns, I'll be back on my soap routine again.

EOS Shave Cream in Lavender Jasmine (link): It's a thick cream that smells amazing. It hydrates the skin and doesn't dry it at all. It also makes the razor go smoothly and that's exactly what I'm looking in shaving creams.



* marks PR samples received complimentary

Brand Review: RevitaLash

When hearing name RevitaLash most people instantly think about the miracle lash strengthening serum. It protects your lashes against breakage and brittleness and improves their flexibility, shine and moisture, so when lashes are stronger they grow longer, thicker and darker. However, this brand offers so much more including brow serum and brow gel, primer, mascara, liner, shampoo, conditioner and hair styling products. Today I decided to share my opinion about 4 of their lash and brow products. So here we go.

Eyelash Conditioner (link): I've purchased this in July and I've been using it every night. I tried documenting my lash growth progress each week, but I stopped after some time. I'm not sure how accurate my photos were as sometimes I would forget to take a photo of my lashes before washing my face in the morning and I feel that once I wet the lashes, the don't represent the actual look. However, I did notice the biggest change during the first week of using RevitaLash serum. I could see my lashes were fuller and darker. On the following weeks the results didn't change dramatically and seemed to be pretty much the same. Though I could tell my lashes were fuller and looked nicer when I applied mascara. Just like any product of this nature, it works while you use it constantly. I stopped using this conditioner for a while and while I can't complain about my lashes they're not as great as they were with RevitaLash. The serum is still good for use, so I'm back to my nightly routine and I'm seeing the difference again.

Volumizing Lash Primer* (link): I've tried a couple products like this in the past and I quite like them. I'm used to seeing white primers, so this one surprised as it is blue. I must say I really like the color as it's different, but also because it doesn't make any primer left without mascara that visible. I tried this primer both with RevitaLash mascara and other mascaras and I like it with them all. It's one of those products that is not a necessity, but it adds a nice bonus to makeup, so I enjoy using it. 

Volumizing Mascara* (link): I love big, thick, separated lashes, and since I've heard good feedbacks about this mascara, I had to try it for myself. To be honest, the result is not enough for me. This mascara does give volume, but more of a natural one, so it's good for everyday, but it's not the one I'd pick when going out or when I want drama on my lashes. It applies nicely to the lashes, the color is really black and it doesn't clump up the lashes. 

Tinted Brow Gel* (link): I have this in color Soft Brown, which is very close to Taupe color of my favorite brow powder-gel from 100% Pure. This brow gel has brush/comb on one side and gel on the other side. I'm used to using spoolie brush for my brows, so I'm not a fan of the comb side. The gel side is nice though the brush is too big in my opinion. If it was smaller, it would be easier to control it/apply it to the brows. With it being on the bigger side I had to learn to work on my brows, especially the thinner side without staining my skin. Sometimes I use the very tip of it for the thinnest part of my brows. In case you do get the product on your skin, clean it off right away as it dries pretty fast. The color looks natural and the result is natural. It's a nice product is you have good eyebrows and just need some tidiness and color, but if you have uneven brows, I'd suggest using some other brow product and applying this gel on top. It is a gel, so once dry, it feels harder to the touch. However, the look is very natural and doesn't seem like your brows have anything on. I haven't mastered the product yet, so I use it when I'm at home and wear no other makeup or when I'm just running errands during th day. For going out I choose other bolder brow products and sometimes apply this gel on top.  

* marks PR samples received complimentary

Brand Review: Danish Skincare

I'm a skincare addict, so I love testing/using new products, but sometimes it's challenging to write a good review when using a bunch of different products from different brands. The company I'm going to review today sent a whole line of their products, so after using their complete skincare routine I can finally give a good review.

Danish Skincare (link) is a brand from Denmark offering products that are free of unnecessary, harmful and irritant ingredients, free of fragrance and free of colors. Each item is sold separately, but they can also be purchased as mini or regular sized sets. The company makes it easy as the only choice one needs to make is pick normal-to-oily or normal-to-dry products. Danish Skincare offers a simple and easy 3 step skincare routine, which I'll describe below. Since this line doesn't have face serum and eye cream (facial moisturizer can be used for eye area) I incorporated a few additional products (morning toner, eye cream, face serum) into this skincare routine, but for the sake of this review I did test the products by themselves as well.

Step 1 (day and night): Danish Skincare offers Clean Skin Face Wash* (link) that is suitable for all skin types. It is gentle enough to be used twice a day. While it's mild enough to be used in the morning, it's tough enough to be used for evening routine and removes makeup well. This face wash has gel consistency, washes face clean without drying it out and it doesn't irritate skin/eyes. 

Step 2 (day and/or night): Smooth Skin Treatment* (link) is all-in-one product to replace facial masks, scrubs and other exfoliating treatments. It is BHA based, so it helps fighting/avoiding pimples, blackheads, acne, etc. This product is in liquid form, but not completely watery as it has some "body" in it. This treatment is used like toner: apply on cotton pad and wipe on your face. It is very gentle on the skin and didn't irritate my sensitive skin. It's good for all skin types and can be used once or twice a day. I only used it in the evenings. 

Step 3 (day): For daytime Danish Skincare offers Perfect Skin Day Protector* (link). This moisturizer has SPF15 protecting both from UVA and UVB rays. While this cream looks pretty solid, it's really soft and applies to the skin easily and  absorbs quickly. Very little is needed for application, so when overused it would leave some residue on my skin that wouldn't sink in completely and leave my skin a bit shiny. 

Step 3 (night): For nighttime routine I used Perfect Skin Moisturizer* (link). It's a lightweight moisturizer that is thinner in texture than the daytime one. A little goes a long way, so this bottle will last for a while. This cream applies smoothly and absorbs quickly to the skin. However, it made my skin, especially T-zone, very shiny. My skin is normal (towards combo in colder months and  towards dryer in winter months) and I've never had problems with oiliness. It was less shiny if I skipped Smooth Skin Treatment and used the cream alone, but in both case I was oily. It didn't really bother me much as it was during my evening routine. Besides, my skin looked great in the morning and that was a good result for me.

* marks PR samples received complimentary

BeautyFix October 2017 Unboxing and Review

Another month, another BeautyFix beauty box. I've tried a few subscription boxes in the past, but this is the one that I'm sticking to. I see good value in what I get for the price I pay. Also, it offers a great variety of products each month.

I was very excited to receive Dr. Brandt PoreDermabration exfoliator (retails $58, link). I haven't tried it out yet, but I've had this kind of product from Dr. Brandt in the past and it was one of the best, so I have high hopes for this one too.

I was also very happy to receive Paula's Choice Skin Firming Line Minimizer serum (retails $50, link) as I've heard great things about this product. However, I'm not sure if I'm going to use it myself or gift it to somebody.

I love sheet masks, so I've used Avene Soothing sheet mask (retails $9.50, link) right away. I loved how big an comfortable the mask is. The serum is gel-like, so the mask stayed well on the face and felt nice. My skin was left very soft and calm. I would definitely buy it again.

One of the samples this month was Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Laque in color Her Name Bubbles (full size retains $22, link). I love the color, but this product doesn't work for me. I've had it in another shade and it's just too sticky and not enough pigmentation for my taste, so I'm not vn trying this sample.

The other sample was Tocca Stella EDP (1.7 oz retails $72, link). I liked the notes and when I sprayed it on myself, I liked it even more and I'm thinking of getting it full size. It's a beautiful scent that is perfect for fall - sweet, but not too sweet with the notes of citrus and flora. I like Tocca products, because they offer a variety of products in their scents (e.g. candles, body lotions, soaps, hair perfume, etc.)

BeautyFix also included two deluxe samples though one of them turned out to be good for one use only. Arcona Cranberry Gomage (3.4 full size retails $47, link) is a very fine facial exfoliator. It smells nice, but the scent is strong. The tube seems big nough, but it only contained product for one use. It's not the first Arcona product that I've tried and I've noticed that in the past that even some full size products have a somewhat deceiving packaging. The packaging looks big, but it is not filled completely with a product.

La Roche-Posay Hydrating Gentle Soap Free Cleanser (full size retails $14.99, link) sounds promising for colder weather when my skin gets dryer and needs more moisture. I haven't tried it yet, but the description sounds like something I'm going to like a lot. 

Brand Review: Virtue

New day comes with a new blog post. I noticed that while I like taking care of my hair, I don't talk a lot about hair products, so today I'll review Virtue (link). This brand offers shampoos and conditioners as well as correcting and styling products. I'm going to review 5 of Virtue products and share my opinion about them.

Recovery Shampoo* (link) is pretty liquidy, but it does a great job at hydrating and repairing hair. It doesn't have rich texture/feel, but a little goes a long way and nourishes hair well. While it restores moisture to the hair, it doesn't weight it down and doesn't lave heavy/oily feel. I have very fine hair and I like this shampoo a lot.

Recovery Conditioner* (link) is also nice, but it's not a staple in my shower. This conditioner is light enough to not overweight the hair, but it's heavy enough to nourish my ends. I only apply conditioners to the ends of my hair, so I prefer something a little heavier. This Virtue conditioner is in the middle between heavy and light conditioners. It would be a nice everyday conditioner for any hair type. 

When I think about hair serums, I usually imagine one in the form of oil or at least some other liquid. As you can see from the photo Perfect Ending Split End Serum* (link) is pretty hard and keeps its form. However, once rubbed between hands it softens up and is easy to apply to the ends. The serum makes hair soft, manageable, frizz free and doesn't leave any heaviness/oiliness. A little goes a long way, but if you need more, you can always build it up on the hair. 

One For All 6-in-1 Styler* (link) is light in texture. It is easy to apply to the hair. I apply it from mid length to the ends and after brushing my hair out I leave it to air dry. My hair is left very soft and shiny. It doesn't feel heavy in the hair and doesn't leave any stickiness or residue. 

I don't use hairspray or mousse, but I tried out this Uplifted Volumizing Whip* (link). The foam comes out pretty thick and keeps its shape. I applied a bit to my damp hair and used my hands to create small waves in my hair. It worked well even though Virtue recommends using 6-in-1 Styler with this mousse for fine hair.

* marks PR samples received complimentary