May '14 empties

I believe that I'm now in my "nesting" mode. Or I'm just product demon. How else am I to explain my insane mowing through of products?

rinRen Konatsu & Camellia Treatment

Talked about the shampoo here and the Yuzu & Ginger treatment here.

Repurchase: No

Hada Labo Gokujyun Light Lotion

Took me a really long time to finish this one up. Like, more than a year, with on and off use. Seems like a pretty standard sized bottle for toners (lotion in Japan), but at 170ml and 7 drops per use once a day, this really went a long way. I found it particularly useful on warm days when I'm too lazy to moisturize or when moisturizer makes my makeup melt faster/face oilier. 7 drops of this, some BB cream and I'm good to go. It's not particularly hydrating but it gives my skin a little something to cushion the BB cream as the ones I use are not particularly good in providing moisture. It's also nicer to be able to pat on product in the morning instead of soaking up a cotton pad and swiping as I sometimes find that it's a little too harsh especially when I have really irritable skin. With no fragrance and color, I'd say this is a good budget buy for people with sensitive skin. At my age, I need something that will improve the appearance as well as maintain moisture so I'm gonna move on and experiment more.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Olive Shower Gel

For men, apparently. Since Mister Homebody and I share shower gels, I try not to get anything that's too girly. Love, love this. Probably second in line after their Satsuma Shower Gel which we used one giant bottle of here. Not your typical refreshing, fruity scent from The Body Shop and I'd say this is good regardless of season. I always step out of the shower feeling relaxed after my shower.

Repurchase: Yes

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil (travel size)

I've used up a bottle here. Still have a few bottles in my stash (yes, I'm a crazy hoarder, I know).

Repurchase: Have backups

NOV UV Shield EX SPF 50+ PA+++

Comes in a squeezy tube with a needle point sized nozzle. Perfect for not having too-big globs when you don't need them. Recommended by my dermatologist when I was going for some skin peels and treatment last year (not much improvement, long story) and always left the clinic with hypersensitive and red skin. I get reactions from most chemical sunscreens and have therefor stayed away from using sunscreen ever. Imagine the amount of damage I've suffered through the years :( This is a purely physical sunscreen without UV ray absorbing agents that can be used on both the face and body although I used it only on my face due to the 30ml size and price point. Loved it in the beginning as it didn't contribute to the oiliness in my face and seems to spread easy enough. I used it on days when I have to spend a lot of time outdoors (walking to school, taking pictures on a sunny day etc.). At a glance, I have zero white cast, but after putting powder or foundation on, everything goes horribly wrong. Instead of a smooth base, I'm uber cakey especially around my nose and mouth. I credited it to my lack of moisturizing at first, but even after moisturizing and smoothing this on, I still get cake-faced. Whichever way I tried it, I always ended up with a mask-like face. Slightly darker foundation, moisturizing foundation, BB cream, powder foundation, nothing worked. I loved that my skin had no reaction to it and I never get a burn or even feel remotely sore when I used it, but I don't think I can make it work with other products.

Repurchase: No

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip

Used here. Does what it's supposed to, that's all.

Repurchase: Have a few more strips to go

Esprique Precious Powder Foundation SPF22 PA++(sample)

Not entirely sure which one this is as Esprique has a few powder pacts in their line, but I love it! Got the sample along with the makeup bases that I used up here and it lasted me a good couple of uses. The salesperson must be psychic and know that I'm always wearing mismatched bases because this is the perfect match for my skin (OC-410 for my own future reference). Either that, or I'm just lousy and still have much to learn. It works beautifully with their makeup bases and it's so natural that I'm almost able to fool myself into thinking I'm not wearing any makeup! No dryness or oiliness detected, just smooth beautiful skin. I used my Sephora mineral powder brush with it and was rewarded with the most beautiful finish I've ever seen on myself! Win!

Repurchase: Yes

ELAN Cleansing Cloth

A sample thrown in during a purchase I made from a Korean skincare store some time ago. Rub the cloth on wet hands to foam it up and then massage onto face. Acts as an exfoliant as well as a cleanser. No scent that I remember of, but I'm not entirely sure what the ingredients are since it's all in Hangul. I liked it, but feel it's a little wasteful to discard one cloth with each use.

Repurchase: No

Muji Cotton Puff

A staple which I've talked about here.

Repurchase: Yes

Dermal Grape Collagen Essence Face Mask

Another freebie from a Korean purchase. For relaxed, clear and moisturized skin. As mentioned before, I don't use sheet masks often enough to be able to see the results. At most, I pop them on after my night time shower and go to sleep after I've removed them. I know most people massage the essence in, moisturize and call it a day. I can't stand the stickiness, really, so I moisten a cotton pad with toner and wipe the essence off before rounding up my night routine. My skin did feel a little plumper and smoother immediately after use (as with any other mask I use) and it felt like I had a bunch of grapes on my face, haha. 

Repurchase: No

My monthly 10 done! So looking forward to thinning out all this stuff I hoarded and eventually just be able to stick to staples and products that actually work for me.

September '13 empties

What is up with this heat here? I'm beyond melting and it's pretty crazy how hot it gets here in summer!

It's true that I'm from a tropical country and it's hot all year round, but not 37 degree kind of hot :(

At least I used stuff up this month so I guess that makes it alright in a completely unrelated way, yes?

b. Strong Wash Shampoo

Mister Homebody got this for his itchy scalp and I ended up using it more than he did since I'm a sucker for all things cool/fresh/minty/tingly. I love lathering up and massaging into my scalp, then waiting a few minutes before rinsing off. Gives me the tingly menthol feeling and it's really refreshing in crazy summer heat. Since I use it once or at the very most twice a week, I'm not sure if it did anything for me. My hair texture remained the same (though thats fair since it wasn't for beautiful hair anyway) and my scalp condition remains unchanged. I didn't have much scalp problems to start with so this was more a pick me up than a treatment.

Repurchase: No

Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion (Moist)

This is the original version of their facial lotion and believe it or not, I'm finally done after a year. Yes, it really took that long. Since the consistency is almost like water, I didn't have to use a lot, just 5-7 drops at most. I didn't even have to use cotton pads so you can imagine how slow my progress was with this bottle of 170ml. Free of fragrance and coloring, this is supposed to be ideal for sensitive skin in providing moisture without contributing to oiliness. I'd say it did all that it claimed, but nothing more than that. There was no improvement, but I'm happy that my skin didn't get worse. It does get tiresome, though, to be using the same thing for an entire especially when it doesn't feel luxurious or give me a boost of...anything.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Lemon and Thyme Shower Gel

I'm in love with this! But sadly, it's been discontinued with the rest of the Earth Lovers range :( Mister Homebody and I have been really enjoying this shower gel over summer as it's got that zing and it's oh-so-refreshing in this heat. Paraben, colorant and sulfate free, which is just my thing. Works like all the other shower gels from The Body Shop, but I have to give it some extra love for smelling absolutely delicious!

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Bath & Body Works PocketBac in I Love Bling Rock Candy 

I think Bath & Body Works products are mostly misses for me being that they're usually too strongly scented. This one here smells sickly sweet and I get really embarrassed each time I use it in the teachers' room after a lesson. To think it's one of the milder ones that I have in my stash. To be honest, I don't actually know how effective it is for clean hands, but I'm too lazy to walk all the way to the washroom in between lessons, so this does the job.

Repurchase: No

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

I've used a bottle up here.

Repurchase: Have backup bottles

Feverlet E.G.F. Essence Mask

One of the many masks from my haul at Incheon Airport. I like this way more than the Etude House ones. Saturated with just enough essence so I don't get anything running down my neck while I relax and the fit seems a lot better, too, with minimal adjusting. The cotton sheet is slightly embossed and thinner than others, but I don't know if it's just by design or if it functions to provide more benefits to application/absorption. I can actually massage the essence into my skin after taking it off, as opposed to doing some rinsing with other masks before I proceed with the next steps. Stick it in the fridge for a while and there you go, a cool sheet for your face in 35 degree heat. 

Repurchase: Maybe

Biore Pore Pack (Black)

Found a few strips of these when I was digging stuff out. I always buy the black version because I like seeing all the gunk on the strips clearly when I rip it off my nose. Yes, TMI. I actually prefer this brand over the Claudia Jansen one.

Repurchase: Yes

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip

Talked about it here.

November '12 empties

I went through quite a few products in the month of November and honestly, I think I get a kick out of finishing stuff up. Just the sight of half empty stuff that's been sitting around forever finally finished gives me flutters in my stomach. True story.

On to the suspects.

Product #1:

L'occitane Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo

L'occitane Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo

From here:

Care and give radiance to your hair. This shampoo smoothes and softens capillary fibers. Your hair is left looking and feeling supple, shiny and silky. A natural complex of 5 essential oils - Angelica, Lavender, Geranium, Ylang-ylang and Patchouli - plus wheat proteins work together in synergy to help repair, strengthen, regenerate and soften dry and damaged hair. The perfect shampoo for those who color treat, permanent wave, blow dry, curling iron, or use drying styling products on hair.

What I think:

I love it! The smell is so wonderfully relaxing and shampooing my hair was one of the things I look forward to at the end of everyday (yes, I'm one of those people who has to shampoo everyday). It doesn't strip or leave my hair feeling squeaky after the suds are rinsed out. Lathers nicely and the scent lingers on forever! I get an oily scalp if I use creamy shampoos or stuff with silicones so this one is perfect for everyday use even if my hair isn't damaged.

Will I repurchase:

I have been repurchasing this for about 4 years (when I still had a job) and finally, this year, I realized that I had to give it up due to the price. No job, no nice expensive shampoo =( But having said that, I've always thought L'occitane products prices are a bit way out of my reach and yet, I've been stubbornly paying through my nose for years. Yay, me! I'm likely to come back to this as a treat for myself in the near future but I definitely won't be purchasing it on a regular basis. Not by choice, sadly =(

Product #2:

Hada Labo Gokujyun Face Wash

Hada Labo Gokujyun Face Wash

 From here:

Preserve your skin’s natural moisture as you wash. A small amount works up into a rich, foaming lather, then rinses clean—without drying out your skin. Used morning and night, this is the luxurious yet practical start to softer, more supple skin.

What I think:

It's free of fragrance and color. Boring. I got this in summer and had been using it regularly for my night time cleansing with my Clarisonic Mia to combat the oilies and for extra gentle exfoliation. Nothing exciting, but it didn't irritate my skin like my Biotherm cleanser did and my face wasn't left feeling tight and stretched after I dry it. I went through a crazy skin phase for a few months were my breakouts were deep under the skin and painful and they happen all the freaking time! At the same time, my face would be oily and I get so afraid to exfoliate in case I aggravate it further. My usually-normal skin became extra sensitive and rejected all my regular face products so this kinda saved the day at a highly affordable price. Overall, it's a simple cleanser that does its job. Great for sensitive skin types.

Will I repurchase:

Already did. I like that it keeps everything under control face-wise and no comings-out will be happening soon with the closet zits, but honestly, it's so boring! I like my products to be lightly fragranced so this one just really doesn't make the cut for me. Although, to be completely fair, I did get it because it's fragrance/color free to help with my crazy skin phase.

Product #3:

 Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel

From here:

This soap-free shower gel contains zesty satsuma essential oil and has a refreshing citrus scent.

• Soap-free

• Lather-rich

• Refreshing citrus scent

What I think:

I like Body Shop shower gels in general. And when I say like, I really mean I've been using them regularly since I was about 13 years old or so. In recent years, however, I find that they can be a tad on the drying side if I don't follow up with a lotion or a body butter after. Not sure if the formula has changed over the years, or that my age is showing in my skin =( The citrus-y smell is a good wake-up scent and I love having it waft through the apartment when I decide to step out of the shower. I find that it's best used with the Bath Lily and I need only a small amount to lather up for my shower. I don't like using it for baths because, while the bubbles grow pretty quickly, I often have to squirt a lot of it for that effect. Wasteful, in my opinion. This jumbo size lasted the man and I a good few months and it seems to be pretty good value when there's discounts.

Will I repurchase:

Sure. I've gone through many of these over the years. It's one of my favorites from the Body Shop. We tend to rotate our shower gels with other scents so things doesn't get boring, but I'm pretty sure this one will make a repeat appearance.

Product #4:

Body Shop Born Lippy Pot Lip Balm - Passionberry

Body Shop Born Lippy Pot Lip Balm - Passionberry

  From here:

Our cult lip balm in a pot. Gives colour, flavour and moisture for more kissable lips.

• Purple tint

• Shine finish

• Fruity passionberry flavour

What I think:

Judging from the battered packaging I guess it's easy to come to the conclusion that it was well-loved. It wasn't. I've just had it around for a really long time and finally decided that enough is enough. I don't want to look at it for a second more (I did make a very conscious effort to finish it up, though). While it met my criteria of smelling good, I didn't feel that it made my lips any softer or more moisturized after repeated uses. The effects were instant, yes, but not long lasting. I also hate the way my hair always get stuck on my lips whenever I use this. Oh well, for something that I bought for an emergency on a beach getaway, it lasted me a good few years.

Will I repurchase:

Nah. I like that it reminds me of my childhood when The Body Shop products were a luxury and they always smelled and tasted so good. But now that I know better and my lips need the actual moisture from a good product, I'll look for something else.

Product #4:

Kneipp Bath Salts (Orange Linden Blossom, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Lavender)

Orange Linden Blossom

Eucalyptus

Lavender

Rosemary

From here:

Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts contain salt crystals that are generated from salt water that is pumped up 460 meters from an underground sea in Germany. The water is boiled off using Europe’s last existing traditional pan method and the remaining salt is then infused with Essential oils. This process allows the Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts to be created without chemical additives, remain free of modern pollution and naturally rich in minerals.
The Bath Salts contain a much higher percentage of Calcium, Magnesium, Iron and Zinc than sea salts and industrial salts. The unique crystals naturally absorb the Essential oils until released into a warm steam bath.
The Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts are alkaline free, preservative free, dermatologist tested, bathtub friendly (leaves tub clean) and skin friendly. Activated by hot water, Bath Salts help build resistance to daily aggressions, exfoliate, tone and increase elasticity of the skin. Taking a Kneipp salt bath relieves the discomfort of minor aches and pains, relaxes tired muscles, refreshes the body and can promote a restful, sound sleep.
Kneipp Bath Salts are a great way to detoxify. The salts bind protein on the surface of the skin and form a layer that prevents the dissipation of heat from the body. The salt then promotes perspiration and the body’s toxins are eliminated in sweat. This opens the pores and allows the body to absorb minerals and trace elements (Rosemary and Juniper are specific herbs that promote the detoxification process).
Directions for a Jacuzzi/whirlpool bath: slowly add 1/4 capful of bath crystals. Turn on jets, turn off if they create too much foam. You may add up to 1 capful of salts as the foam subsides being careful to turn the jets off if it is too sudsy.
Directions for a regular bath tub: Add one capful of bath crystals to bathwater of approximately 97°- 100° F/ 36° - 38° C in temperature. Optimum bathing time is 10-20 minutes. You may choose to shower after your bath.
Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts boost the health-promoting benefits of the Essential oils. Oily skin may find that the salts are the best alternative.

What I think:

Love. My very kind (then) new neighbor Moriyama-san gave us some gifts as a greeting when she moved in next door and included 4 sachets of bath salts as it was still early Spring. They all smell wonderful and if I could sleep in the bath, I would! I've always had a problem with winter skin and sometimes it would get so bad that the rashes would bleed (TMI, I know!) so I've been avoiding having baths , because everyone says so. These leave my skin smooth and while not exactly moisturized, not dry at all! No itching, no tightness. I don't even have to follow up with my nightly regime of slathering myself in body butter before bed. My favorite of the 4 has to be eucalyptus, mostly because I like minty/herbal scents. It helps clear my sneezies and I always have it in my mind that anything that smells like eucalyptus has to be good for the body.

Will I repurchase:

Already did! I will, over and over again, every winter, as long as they keep stocking up the shelves.