Weekly Empties (20)

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50V (link): I've heard so many great things about the original P50 and I wanted to try it for the longest time. I finally purchased it, but I decided to go with a milder version (there are a few different options available). I used it once a day (at night) and it lasted about 3-4 weeks. I felt mild tingling, but nothing to bother or worry me. My skin reacted to this toner well, I've tried some other acid toners that I'm very happy with and that come in bigger amounts for around the same price point. While I'm not going to repurchase it right away, I might gt a different P50 option sometime in the future.

Botanics Micellar 3in1 Cleansing Solution (link): This micellar water was pretty good. It was gentle on the skin, it didn't irritate my eyes or face, it lasted long. It is a very basic micellar water.

Clinique Take The Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes (link): I use wipes almost every time I need to take my makeup off. I use them on my eyes and then swipe over the face and continue with other makeup removing products. These towelettes were moist enough, they were gentle on my eyes and removed makeup well. I have no complaints about them and would repurchase in the future, but for now I want to try out a few others that are in my wishlist.

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eyes Creme (link): This cream has a bit of sparkly/shimmer-y particles, but they don't transfer on th skin. I didn't see any brightening, shimmering effect on the skin, but it was a nice hydrating cream. It was light, absorbed quickly and felt nice on the skin giving long lasting moisture to th undereye area. I do prefer creams (both eyes and face) in different containers where I don't have to dip my fingers into the product, but the product was nice enough to ignore the container this time.

Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion Pore Perfecting Exfoliator (link): While I'm not a fan of face scrubs, I like the feeling of dermabrasion products on my skin as I feel they are doing something. I received this product in one of my BeautyFix boxes and was really excited. However, I've used it a couple of times and afterwards got some pimples on my face. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but I didn't use it on my face anymore and used it up as a body scrub. 

Biologique Recherche Lait Vip O2 Cleanser (link): I'm interested to try out more products from this brand, so I was happy to receive a sample of this cleanser with my purchase. It is a very light and gentle product and I think it's best when no makeup is worn. It did remove my makeup, but it didn't do a completely perfect job and I had to use a second cleanser.

Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Clarify + Clear Mask (link): Whenever I use this mask I can detect a very strong scent of camphor. It doesn't really bother me, but I would prefer the mask to be more scent-free or have milder scent. This mask was nice, it flt comfortable on the skin, didn't dry it out, but it didn't feel anything special so I would want to get a full size.

SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair Eye Cream (link): This was a tiny sample, but I liked the cream very much. It felt hydrating, but felt lightweight and absorbed well and quickly into the skin. It is getting on my wishlist and hopefully one day I'll get a full size.

Glamglow Volcasmic Matte Glow Moisturizer (link): Usually I avoid products that have silicone-y or balm-y texture, but this moisturizer was quite nice. It went on the skin super easily, it absorbed instantly, didn't leave any oily/sticky feeling and gave long lasting hydration. I would gladly use it again in the future.

Aerin Rose Lip Conditioner (link): This might be a very small sample, but you only need a tiniest amount of the lip balm, so it lasted pretty well. It had a very pleasant taste as well. The balm is very thick and super hydrating. I used it as a lip mask before applying other lip products or as a nighttime lip balm.   

Cocofloss Dental Floss in Pure Strawberries (link): I wish these dental flosses had more flavor as it is very mild. Otherwise it is a great floss and works as promised. 

St. Tropica Organic Coconut Hot Oil Hair Mask (link): Even though this mask feels/looks/smells like pure coconut oil, it has a few additional ingredients to benefit hair. After trying this mask I would prefer getting a jar of good quality coconut oil and using it as a mask instead of buying these packets. The packets are for one time use, but I don't apply oils to my roots, so it's too much product for one use and there's also no way to keep it for next time (unless you choose to keep an open packet).

Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo (link): Finally! This is a purple shampoo that is meant to remove yellow/brassy undertones from blonde hair. It smelled wonderful, but it didn't perform as expected. I have light blonde hair for the longest time, so I've gone through a lot of purple shampoos. This Oribe shampoo is one of the worst I've tried. It did help to keep cool tone in my hair, but it dried out my hair so bad. I mixed it with either moisturizing shampoo or conditioner (and I never apply conditioner to my roots) and my hair still felt on the dryer side afterwards.

Sol De Janeiro Hand Cream (link): It's a very lightweight hand cream. It absorbs instantly, so I loved using it right before leaving the house. It's good for warmer weather, but it would be too light for any serious hydration or cold months.   

Milk Makeup Kush Mascara (link): I was excited to try out this mascara and I was happy after first application, but I changed my mind very quickly. This mascara gave me both volume and length, it was easy to apply, but it didn't arrange lashes as nicely as my other mascaras do. I was still happy with how I looked. However, a few hours after the application I wanted to practice false lash application and I saw some mascara fallout on my undereyes when I looked in the mirror. I was still fine, but the moment I started touching my lashes, Milk Makeup mascara started falling off the lashes and after applying false lashes twice I was left with almost bare lashes. I tried Kush Mascara once more, but again it crumbled off if I rubbed/touched my eyes. Besides, I have sensitive eyes, so any fallout irritates them. With so many good mascaras available I'm just not going to give another chance to this one.

Givenchy Noir Interdit Mascara (link): This is another mascara that I've been eyeing for the longest time. I was super excited to see it offered as a sample on Sephora.com. It was the first time that I received a mascara sample packaged this way - it was in a peel-off plastic container (like the ones of lip product samples). You're supposed to peel half of the foil off, fold the brush and pull it out. Well, it worked and the mascara was pretty nice, but my problem is that it's not a hygienic way to store mascara as that peel off stays open. There's plenty of mascara inside, but the sample is not travel (or even everyday use) friendly, so I had to get rid of it.

Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF20 (link): This is one of my all time favorite foundations and very often I preferred to use it instead of some high-end foundation. It gives medium to medium-full (not completely full) coverage. It is easy to apply, it looks natural on the skin and stays on all day without a problem. I'm not a big fan of doe foot applicator, but I didn't mind it too much.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (link): It seems that I'm the last one to try it out as everyone is crazy about it. I got it, I loved it and I already repurchased this powder.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Blackout EDP Travel Spray (link): I'm not good describing fragrance, but I'm in love with this scent and I'm already planning to repurchase it.   

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Chihuahua (link): It's described as a dusty mauve shade, but I'd say it is a nude/brown-ish shade. It looked beautiful when I was pale and when I had a tan. It felt comfortable on th lips and lasted long. Many times I would apply lip gloss on top to get a shiny effect. I've been wearing this lipstick up until a month or two ago without a problem, but when I applied it a few days ago I noticed that it has changed. It became more liquid-y and wouldn't dry down completely. While the smell is still the same, I'm not going to keep it any longer. I want to reduce the amount of lip products in my collection, so I'm not repurchasing this one yet, but I will keep it in mind next time I need a nude lipstick.

Aloette Face Paint Lip & Cheek Tint in Blooming Berry (link): It's not a bad product, but it's just something I don't use and I know I will not use. I don't use blush (especially not liquid/cream blush), so I can only use this product on my lips. It feel nice and light on the lips, the shade is pigmented and applies evenly, but my problem is the application process. I don't like applying it with my fingers and I don't want to be bothered with getting a lip brush or with washing my fingers afterwards. It's also not a great product to take into my handbag for re-application throughout the day. I've tried it a few times, but I kept it in my makeup drawer without touching for almost a year, so it's time to get rid of it.   

Weekly Empties (19)

Montagne Jeunesse Coconut+Clay Peel Off Mask (link): Once in a while I buy masks by this brand, but I'm not a big fan overall. Some masks have a lot inside and would last 2-4 uses (though I hate keeping open packets/containers) and others barely cover the face for a single use. There was a lot of this particular mask inside, but I used it in a single use. Besides, I like to cover my face really well and thick when I use peel-off masks. The scent was amazing! The mask felt comfortable on the face, was easy to peel off and left skin very soft. Tough the application was quite messy as the mask was hard to squeeze out and seemed to be stuck to the inside of the packet, so I had to cut a side and use my fingers to take it all out (I usually use a silicone mask brush to apply my masks).

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser (link): I usually have no complaints about face washes as long as they remove my makeup and don't dry my skin. This cleanser was exactly that. It removed makeup well, it felt comfortable on the skin, it was easy to wash off and it left skin feeling comfortable. It lasted very long as I received it in August's Beautifix subscription box and use it ever since. I did use other cleansers as well, but this was always my main one.

Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream (link): I like most of DE products, so I got excited when this eye cream came out. I didn't rush to buy it and finally got a mini sized one to try. This eye cream was thick/rich enough, but wasn't too heavy and sank into the skin pretty quickly. It made my undereyes feel soft and hydrated. However, I felt that it might not be the best under makeup and only used it at night. It was a nice cream and I would love using it if I got it, but I wouldn't purchase the full size myself as there are other great eye creams under that price.

Origins Ginseng Energy Boosting Gel Moisturizer (link): That's another new product that I got a sample of before committing to full size. When the weather gets warmer I love lighter texture of my face moisturizers, so this one was perfect. It was light, absorbed quickly, but left skin soft and well hydrated. I would purchase a full size without a doubt.         

Covergirl Lid Lock Up Eyeshadow Primer* (link): I don't use eyeshadow often and I don't really use an eyeshadow primer, so this product sat in my drawer most of the time without use. I tried it a few times and it was ok, but I prefer using Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeshadow Sticks that serve me both as eyeshadow and primer for other eyeshadows.

Babe Body Souffle in Punk Rose (link): This body moisturizer is amazing! It smells heavenly too! It is very light, absorbs to the skin quickly, but gives good hydration. I purchased it last September and I just ran out of it. I use it throughout the winter as well. I would get it again. 




* marks PR samples received complimentary 

Weekly Empties (18)

I love sheet masks, but recently I have been using less of them. I did use Beautigenix Lifting Mask* (link) this week. This mask is really sturdy, not too thin, but applies to the face well and stays on well. It leaves my skin hydrated, soft and plump. I don't really see lifting effect, but I love it for its other properties.

I only use Boscia Luminizing Black Mask (link) on certain parts of my face, because it's a peel-off mask and it's one of those painful ones. It is fine when I spot treat my face with it. I like using peel-off masks for the fun of it, but I don't really see any visible results afterwards. I much more prefer clarifying or detoxifying clay/mud masks or sheet or regular wash-off masks for hydration.

I don't even know why I got Skyn Iceland Arctic Hydration Rubberizing Mask with Vitamin C (link), because I'm not a fan of modeling masks. Yes, they are a lot of fun to use, but they are too messy for me. However, they are great if you have someone to apply them or to be used at a spa/salon. This particular mask left skin extremely soft and hydrated. It was one of the best moisturizing masks that I've ever tried, but like I mentioned before, it was messy and I had to work very very quickly as the mask would start sliding down and dripping. I tried laying down as fast as I could to make the mask stop from moving, but even when laying down it would go towards hairline or back of my neck before it thickened up.

I have too many cleansers, but I get tempted to open some new one before finishing the other ones, so I often end up using them to wash my makeup brushes. This happened with Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Cleanser (link) as well. It was a very nice creamy cleanser, but you only need a little bit, so it lasted for ages. I prefer gel or lighter consistency cleansers, but this one was good and did the job. It removed makeup without drying the skin, it was easy to wash off the face and it left skin feeling comfortable.

Just like with cleansers, I like trying out new moisturizers. I've been using Danish Skincare Perfect Skin Moisturizer* (link) for some time, then put it aside and never took it again. Since I go through my skincare once in a while trying to used it up, to repurpose it, to give it to someone or just to get rid of it, I came across this face cream and ended up using it as a body moisturizer. I know I probably sound negative, but don't get me wrong. It is not a bad product, it is lightweight, it hydrated the skin and doesn't irritate it, but it is pretty basic. It did make my T-zone somewhat shiny, which wasn't a big deal as it is a nightime cream. Overall I enjoyed using it and it felt fine on my skin, but I just want something more exciting.

I'm not a fan of all Burt's Bees products, but some of them (both makeup and skincare) are great. When Burt's Bes came out with new makeup line last fall, I got most of the items to test and the only things that I kept were brow pencil and Mattifying Powder Foundation (link). I don't remember if I ever tried it by itself, but it's pretty sheer, so I wouldn't call it a foundation. I used it as a setting powder and I enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I liked it so much that I already want to repurchase it, but not doing that until I use up some of the setting powders I already have. This powder is very finely milled, it doesn't leave skin cakey, it applies nicely and keeps makeup in place. 

I've only used Grande Cosmetics Grande Mascara (link) for a few times, but it's already going to my empties. I like the big full brush, but the formula is very dry. I have to work hard to make my lashes the way I like and they still lack thickness/volume. It arranges the lashes nicely, doesn't stick them together, but th end result is too natural. There are days when I don't mind that look, but I know myself and I know that this mascara would end up not being used anyway.

Lip products are my weakness and I have way too many of them, so it's easy to say goodbye to Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Rose (link). This was a beautiful nude shade that's just right (not too dark, not too light, not too grey/brown/pink). It was easy to apply to the lips, stayed on well all day. However, it was a bit drying and didn't feel comfortable in a few hours. Very often I apply lip gloss on top of my lipsticks, so I didn't experience a lot of drying. The formula is on the dryer side and I had to keep redipping my brush to apply the lipstick well and evenly (at least on the sample that I had).



* marks PR samples received complimentary 

Brand Review: Altilis Beauty

Altilis Beauty (link) is a skincare brand offering products formulated with breadfruit and and other tropical botanics. I've tried out facial cleanser, serum and moisturizer, but if you're not committed to purchase full size products, you can get a 7-day sample set (link).   

Facial Cleanser* (link): I really like the airless pump on this cleanser (as well as the whole line from Altilis). It doesn't have a strong scent and doesn't feel oily or too creamy. The consistency is just right and it is easy to wash off the face. I think I prefer this cleanser in the morning or for the days when I wear no makeup. While it removes my makeup, I feel like it doesn't do the best job at it and I want to use something else afterwards. The cleanser feels light on the skin, it doesn't dry it out and doesn't leave any film on the skin.   

Serum* (link): The serum has your typical serum texture that is a bit runny, but not completely watery. It has kukui nut oil, vitamin C and breadfruit among other ingredients. this serum applies to the skin smoothly and absorbs well without leaving any residue. It makes skin very soft. However, there's something in the ingredient list that my nose smells very strongly and it is unpleasant for me. This serum smells like fish oil and I just can't use it. I tried to get used to the scent, but wasn't successful. I'll have to give it to a family member as I can't even repurpose it to use as hand/body serum. 

Moisturizer* (link): The product I enjoy the most is moisturizer. It has a light cream texture, but applies to the skin and sinks in as if it was a very light lotion. It hydrates my skin well all day long without feeling heavy or greasy. It has a mild fragrance and I can barely smell it, so the scent doesn't bother me. This moisturizer feels somewhat basic, but it is great at making skin hydrated, soft and plump. I've never experienced any irritation while using this cream and my skin looks good every time after using it.


* marks PR samples received complimentary

Weekly Empties (17)

I only had a mini of Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray (link), but I enjoyed it a lot. I used it on damp hair and it helped to brush it out, it detangled and conditioned my hair without being too heavy. It also smelled great and the scent lasted throughout the day. 

I received Live Clean Coconut Milk Moisturizing Conditioner* (link) as part of a goodie box. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough to repurchase. This conditioner is on the thinner side, it is pretty light and helps to soften and detangle the hair, but it doesn't make a big difference in hair hydration.

I finally used up Acure Mega Moisture Argan + Avocado 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner, but Acure changed some products and packaging, so it doesn't have this one anymore. It was on the water-y side, but it was good and wasn't too heavy for my fine hair. I did use additional conditioner on my ends though. It smelled nice and reminded me of almonds. It's your basic everyday shampoo, so I wouldn't buy it again and not in this size. It's good for 6 months after opening, so I used it as shaving cream as well. Overall I like Acure shampoos and used a bunch of them in the past and I highly recommend them (coconut one used to be my favorite, but I haven't tried the updated one). Here's a link to other hair products by this brand. 

It's been almost 3 months since I colored my hair. While trying to find new hair dye I ended up going from extra light blonde to light blonde tones and I started to like that. The first time I went darker than usual I was upset and couldn't wait to go light again, but then decided tostay like that for the winter and it just grew on me. Besides, I can go way longer between colorings. This time I intentionally picked light instead of extra light and went with L'oreal Superior Preference in 9A Light Ash Blonde (link). It was easy to use, it didn't irritate my skin and it ended up being a beautiful cool shade that looks natural and not too light. However, this hair dye seemed to dry my hair and I lost quite a few hair while rinsing the dye out. I barely had any hair fall out while rinsing during the past few hair colorings, so I think my hair broke/fell out due to the fact that this product dried my hair and made them tangly and hard to work with and I ended up pulling on it a lot. I really like the color, but I'm not a fan of the rest, so I might look for something different next time or try adding some oil into the hair dye. 

I use various toothpastes, but I almost prefer the ones that are milder and don't have strong minty taste. I finished Hello Toothpaste in Mojito Mint (link) and it was just the way I like. It had mild flavor and it did the job.

I'm not a fan of sandalwood and even get headache from smelling it, so when I received Soapbox Coconut Milk & Sandalwood Body Wash* (link) I didn't even want to go near it. However, once I tried it, I fell in love with this scent. I can't detect sandalwood at all. It also doesn't have the usual coconut scent. It smells sweet and warm, but I can't describe what it is exactly. This body wash lasted for a long time, it's creamy and hydrating. I really enjoyed using it and would repurchase it myself (just different fragrance for the warm weather). Besides, for every product purchased the brand donates a bar of soap for someone in need. 

I've wanted Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum (link) for so long, so I was very happy to finally get it and use it. However, this is a brand where I either love a product or I don't care about it. This serum fell into the second category. It wasn't bad, but it didn't wow me. I didn't notice any brightening effect while using it, except when combined with acids (bu then acids probably did the trick). The serum is in a lotion-like consistency and gave good hydration, so I used it by itself or on top of other more liquidy serums. I didn't mind using it, but I was expecting much more from it.

I'm also saying goodbye to my mini Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Pastile (link). It's a beautiful shade, but it's not something I wear often, so the product went bad. It doesn't taste/smell right anymore. I like the brand, their products and shades. Lip products feel comfortable on, but they don't work for me. Well, except for a lip mask which I use every day. Lipsticks tend to transfer on my teeth and this barely ever happens with other brands. I do all the tricks I know to prevent it from happening, but I can never trust Bite Beauty lip products in acting properly.

I enjoyed using a mini of Manna Kadar Flutter Mascara (link), but it gives too much of a natural result. It applies easily, doesn't stick lashes together, it lasts all day long, I usually prefer bolder and bigger lashes, so I didn't use this mascara too often and I wouldn't purchase it in full size.        


* marks PR samples received complimentary