December Empties

Only a few days left in 2017, so I'm here sharing my empties of the last month of the year. Surprisingly it's less empty packages this month, but I'm still thinking of doing empties differently instead of doing a huge review once a month. But we'll see about that and for now let's move on to the products I've used up.

Leaders 7 Wonders sheet masks (link): Another month, another pile of sheet masks. By now I probably don't even need to tell how much I like them. 

Oz Naturals Vitamin C facial cleanser (link): It's a very basic, gentle face wash. It has a faint citrus scent. I have many face cleansers and since it didn't excite me, I used it to wash my makeup brushes.

Fresh Soy Facial Cleanser (link): For the longest time I knew of Fresh brand and I've tried their samples here and there, but I've never been into the brand until recently. Now I want everything that they carry. This cleanser has a thin consistency, smells amazing and while it's pretty basic, I really enjoyed using it. It removed makeup well and lasted quite long.      

Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser (link): Just like with Fresh, I've got into Mario Badescu pretty recently, but I enjoy using most of the products. Glycolic foaming cleanser didn't have the greatest smell for my liking, but I still used it up. A little goes a long way, so this little bottle lasted me a while. I used this as my morning cleanser and the skin felt really clean, but not dry afterwards.

Botanics Radiant Youth hydrating eye cream (link): I bought this cream without thinking much as I ran out of an eye cream and needed something hydrating and quickly. I didn't expect much and wanted a basic cream, which I got. This cream is really nice, it's not too thick and doesn't feel greasy on the skin. It sinks in quickly, gives plenty of moisture for the undereye area and it doesn't interfere with makeup application. I would gladly repurchase it again.

Passport To Organics Extreme Caffeine eye cream* (link to the regular caffeine cream): I'm not sure if this one is discontinued, but the brand still offers regular caffeine eye cream. Just like their other products, this eye cream is extremely long lasting. It has a light tint and smells just like coffee, so I enjoyed using this cream in the morning. It's not greasy, it applies easily and sinks into the skin well. I do recommend this eye cream.

Hanna Organic Gentle Cleanser* (link) and Everyday Creme* (link): I've recently shared my review on Hanna Organic Skincare, so you can read my thoughts on these products HERE. P.S. 15% discount code is still active - use "blondiesworld15" and save some money (it's not an affiliate code and I don't benefit from it in any way). 

 Farmacy Honey Potion hydration mask (link): I've heard great reviews about this mask, so I was very excited to try this sample. It lasted me for 2 uses. I don't have sensitive skin and I use acids in my skincare, but this mask just wasn't for me. The first time I used it I applied it following directions, but I didn't feel much warmth. Instead my skin felt somewhat uncomfortable. After washing it off my face was red and felt raw to the touch for a while, so I didn't want to use it again. However, eventually I used it up on my chin and again the skin got red though I didn't experience any other discomfort. 

Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask (link): This mask is amazing! I love everything about it. It smells great, it is a quick beauty treatment, it leaves the skin feeling cool (very refreshing and would be amazing in summer). The skin is left soft, hydrated and with a healthy glow. It's one of those products that you use and can't tell what is different about your face, but you can tell that it made a difference. It is on the pricier side, but it lasted me for 4 months, so it's not bad. I will definitely get it again.

Pour Moi Polar Climate day cream* (link): I've reviewed this cream very recently, so you can check my feedback HERE. I loved this cream as it was light enough yet gave great hydration and protection from the cold. My only complaint is how quickly I ran out of it. On day I tried to pump it out and it was gone. I even banged it on the countertop thinking that maybe the pump for stuck or something as I couldn't believe that I'd be out of it. It's a 1 oz bottle and I used it only on the colder days 1-2 times a day, so it barely lasted me 3 weeks (if even that) of continuous use. However, I did like it a lot and I would repurchase it again. 

Calvin Klein Deep Euphoria EDP (link): I'm not a fan of Calvin Klein perfumes and there was one Euphoria edition that I liked (it reminded my mom's perfume from when I was little) though still wasn't something I would wear. When I was looking for new fragrance in spring, I smelled Deep Euphoria out of curiosity and didn't expect anything, but I fell in love instantly. Usually when I like a scent I'll wear it a few times before deciding if I like it enough to purchase, but Deep Euphoria was love at first sight. I purchased it and never regretted it. 

Sephora Avocado hand mask (link): It's a single use glove-type hand mask that I enjoy using. It's especially helpful when my hands gets dry in cold weather. The effect doesn't last too long, but the hands become beautiful and soft and they stay nice for 1-2 days, so it's more of a treatment before parties/special events or just once a week self pampering.

Alba Botanica Acnedote face & body scrub (link): Do I still need to talk about this scrub? I feel like it gets into my empties every month. It's one of my must have products that I've been using for years and I'm not planning to stop.

Korres Mulberry Vanilla shower gel (link): This smells incredible! To be honest, I wasn't looking for a shower gel when I got this one. I smelled it and I had to have it. This body wash made showering extra special. It had a somewhat creamy texture, a little went a long way and it left skin soft and hydrated. I would repurchase it again in the same scent.

Rituals shower foam (link): It's my second mini of Rituals foaming shower gel and I love it. It's a very unique texture and it smells great. However, I think just like all foam products, it tends to dry the skin a bit. I would probably use such product in summertime.

Hello Bubblegum flavor kid's toothpaste (link): While I like fresh minty breath I don't always want that, especially when I'm going to eat/drink right after brushing my teeth. I always brush my teeth the moment I get up in the morning and I just can't stand the taste of mint toothpaste mixing with food flavors, so I choose very lightly flavored toothpastes that don't leave any taste in the mouth. I've been using Hello toothpastes for at least half a year now and I really enjoy their variety. Even the minty ones aren't too strong, but I pick other flavors for my mornings. I'm always unsure about using kid's toothpaste, but this Hello one has the same active ingredients in the same percentage as the adult Hello toothpastes, so I don't think there's anything wrong with it.  

L'oreal Excellence Creme hair color in 10 Lightest Ultimate Blonde (link): I color my hair and I want it to be very very light blonde with neutral, not yellow/brassy undertones.This hair dye is nice as it doesn't smell bad, it goes on easily, doesn't tangle the hair and is easy to use overall, but I have trouble finding the right shade. It seems that my hair doesn't gt as light as I would expect with a certain shade (I've used different shade of this product in the past) and it has some yellow tone in it. I gt used to the color, I neutralize the tone after a couple of washes with a blue shampoo, but I still miss easy and perfect shade that I get with Garnier's White Chocolate color.

Virtue The Perfect Ending split end serum* (link): When I think about hair serums I think about something oil or water based, but this serum had the texture of hair lotion/cream. It was light yet powerful enough for my fine hair and a little went a long way. I would gladly use it again in the future.

Giovanni Vitapro Fusion leave-in hair treatment (link): I'm sure I've showed this in one of my blog posts already as it is one of my must have products. I've been using this leave-in conditioner for years and it is perfect for my hair. It makes my hair shiny, soft, it helps detangling it. The only complain is that the cap never stays on - it just keeps falling off (and this happens with every single one of the bottles).    

* marks PR samples received complimentary

Brand Review: One'n'Only

A lot of times when I review skincare products they are on the pricier side, so today I'll talk about a more affordable skincare line from One'n'Only (link). The brand also offers hair care and hair tools and is sold at Sally Beauty. I got to try most of the products in the Argan Oil skincare line and this is what I always prefer as it's easy to see how the whole line works together.

One'n'Only comes in brown and yellow colored plastic packaging that as an idea looks cute, but feels somewhat cheap to the touch. I understand that it's a drugstore type of brand, but very comparable (price-wise) drugstore brands have nicer containers, so that is possible to do. The other thing that I am not a fan of is a strong scent. All the products smell pretty much the same - strong sickly sweet scent. This is very personal and while I don't like it, there will always be people who don't mind the scent or who love it. Now let's move to talking about each product.

Makeup Removal Cleansing Cloths* (link): These wipes have just the right amount of dampness where they are not dry yet they're not dripping as well. I always use wipes or micellar water to remove my eye makeup and go over the rest of the face before using a face wash. One'n'Only cleansing cloths took a while to remove regular mascara and didn't do a good job. There was plenty of it left, so I had to go in with other products to finish the job. I'm not going to repurpose them and use on my vanity when applying makeup (ti wipe my hands, products, surfaces, etc.).

Cream Cleanser* (link): It seems my makeup was too hard of a job for cream cleanser as well. When I dried my face after washing with this product, my whole white towel was covered in foundation. Maybe it would work better on loose/pressed mineral foundation that is lighter on the skin, but it didn't work on my liquid foundation at all. I had to use a different face wash. However, it works well as a morning cleanser (or for the nights when there's no makeup to remove). It is very creamy and feels like applying moisturizer to the skin. It doesn't dry the skin and leaves it soft and hydrated. I think people with dry skin would especially love this.

Microdermabrasion Exfoliator* (link): This one is very gentle. I've used a few dermabration products in my life and One'n'Only is the most gentle and the most creamy of them all. It actually reminds of a regular scrub and I think it could be used almost every day even on sensitive skin. My other dermabrasion scrubs feel a bit like sandpaper (it sounds worse than it is) and I need to apply them to damp skin or add more water while using them while this one can be applied to dry skin and will not make you feel uncomfortable. As you can see in the photo, the blue exfoliating particles are very sparse.

Serum* (link): I really liked the serum a lot. I wasn't sure what to expect from it and was thinking that it might be one of those oil-based serums that I'm not a fan of. I was pleasantly surprised that this serum comes in a gel-cream consistency. It doesn't have the stickiness/wetness that gel products usually have, it's not watery, but it is very lightweight and airy. It applies to the skin smoothly and absorbs quickly leaving the skin hydrated and somewhat tighter feeling.

Day/Night Moisturizer* (link): While the cream doesn't have milkiness and is richer, it still has a very airy, whipped texture. Just like the serum it applies easily and sinks into the skin quickly without leaving any oiliness or residue. The makeup goes well on top of it and there's no separation or pilling. It's not a fancy product that promises to do a bunch of unbelievable things, but it is a nice solid moisturizer to hydrate the skin. It provides skin with moisture that it needs and doesn't clog up the pores. 

 

* marks PR samples received complimentary

Brand Review: Pour Moi

I think most people change their skincare routine/products when the seasons change, because skin's needs are different in summer and in winter. I'm also doing that and changing my skincare routine once the weather changes. For example, I'll pick richer, heavier creams for cold months and use lighter creams or lotions in the summer. When I came across Pour Moi (link) products, I was especially intrigued as they use climate smart technology. That means that Pour Moi day creams are specially formulated for certain climate types (tropical, desert, temperate, polar). They are made to optimally balance the skin no matter what the season/climate is. Getting products in airless pump containers is a big bonus as they stay fresh and hygienic.

The first product I want to review is White Serum* (link), which is meant for combo, oily, normal and sensitive skin types. As you can see from the photo, the serum is pretty thin. However, it's not too runny or watery as some other serums are and remind me more of face lotion/milk. I mostly use it both morning and evening under my creams, but I've used it as my main face moisturizer on top of another serum and I liked it that way as well. I can't detect any scent in this serum and it applies very smoothly. It sinks into the skin pretty quickly and leaves it hydrated.

Polar Day Cream* (link) is formulated for cold and dry winters (low temperatures and low humidity). Its ingredients act as a barrier against harsh winds and frost, promoted a healthy moisture balance, prevent redness and irritation, have anti-aging benefits. I love anti-aging products, but I think that's something that can't be seen right away and takes time to show the effect, so I can never comment on that part of products. However, with some really cold weather here I've got to try this cream earlier than expected. We had really cold days with even colder wind and I used this cream. My skin didn't dry out, didn't get red while inside or outside and it didn't feel oily/greasy. Before trying the cream I thought it will be much thicker than it is, because I'm used to cold protective creams to be rich. Polar Day Cream has light texture and faint blue color. It applies to the skin easily and sinks in quickly without leaving any oily residue. It makes skin hydrated and very soft. 

Since the weather is not continuously cold yet and we get some days around 50F, I keep switching my day cream and use Temperate Day Cream* (link) on those warmer days. The texture feels the same as the Polar cream, but Temperate one has a faint pink color. This cream is meant for mild temperatures and average humidity. It boosts skin's firmness, promotes a healthy lipid barrier for an optimal moisture balance, draws and traps moisture from the atmosphere and has anti-aging properties. Just like the Polar cream, it makes my skin soft, hydrated and balanced. My skin feels very comfortable and doesn't feel over-moisturized or dry. My makeup applies nicely no matter which cream I use underneath, which is especially important when using more hydrating, winter-type moisturizers.    

* marks PR samples received complimentary