March '14 empties

March had been a crazy busy month for me. Between settling into a new place and trying to adjust my schedule now that we live slightly further from the train station, I was also wrapping up my first year of teaching in high school.

Our apartment was still filled with boxes (most of which I packed and labeled, but still manage to forget what's exactly inside) that I had to dig through almost everyday to get what I want. Not easy, I'll tell you, when the Little Tako seems to be getting heavier and more wriggly by the nano second.

This month saw some samples and a couple of products that I  had really enjoyed using.

Bifest bi-phase Eye Makeup Remover
Something that has already been featured in one of my previous empties posts and needs no introduction nor explanation.
Repurchase: Have another backup bottle somewhere in one of my many boxes...

E.L.F. Shimmer Gloss in Miami (discontinued)
Exactly the same as their (also discontinued) Minty version except this one smells and tastes a little fruity. Plastic-fruity, if I may add. Boring, work-safe, kept my lips moisturized for a couple of hours, nothing to write home about.
Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Clarins Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Comfort Cream (sample)
Something that Mister Homebody had thoughtfully picked up for me seeing that I'd been having skin woes due to hormonal changes. This is the first cream in a long while that didn't make my face oily overnight. Instead, my face felt normal which is something I don't even remember feeling first thing in the morning. Smells relaxing and luxurious, too.
Repurchase: Bought the full-sized jar

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Tamarind (sample)
Came together with the little baggie from Mister Homebody. Has little scrubby bits that I'm pretty sure are not synthetic because they feel like crushed nutshells on my face. Love the scent and the fact that it rinses away clean with no residue. I used this as my morning cleanser and it didn't leave my face tight even in the cold and dry weather.
Repurchase: Bought the full-sized tube

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB in Light/Light Medium
I'm not sure if this has been discontinued as I got it in a swap and it's not available in Japan. Never having been a fan of BB creams, I had actually really enjoyed using this as the cut up tube shows, till the very last bit. I loved the zero effort needed for the sheer and light coverage it gave me and wore it all summer through winter. Only difference was, I skipped the moisturizer in summer as I tend to get oily. A quick buff with a face brush followed by a light sweep of powder and I'm good for the day. I do get shiny through the day, of course, but that's by no fault of the product.
Repurchase: No (not available in Japan)

Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Color in 01 Peony
Color is crazy pretty (for lack of more descriptive words) but it shattered and became so messy that I hardly bothered since I transferred it into a little jar. Soft and easy to blend but may be a little light on my skin tone.
Repurchase: No

Canmake Perfect Serum BB Cream Light in 02 Natural (sample)
Not sure if I used this wrongly but it looked really cakey and melted on the sides of my nose and below my lower lip. I did powder over it as I tend to do on long days but I just look cake-faced. It was also a shade darker so I'm glad it was just a sample. I might try out the lighter shade if I can get my hands on another sample, though.
Repurchase: Possibly in a lighter shade

Esprique Moist Makeup Base (sample)
Love. LOVE. I'm not one who bothers with primers and foundation bases but I wish this little foil packet had more than just one use because I'm so in love! It worked wonder for my winter skin and I saw zero dry patches, yet, no trace of shine. So easy to smooth and the SPF25 was a bonus for me as my skin is highly reactive to sunscreen ingredients.
Repurchase: Definitely (after I'm done with my current tube of sunscreen)

Esprique Flat Control Base UV (sample)
Another win for me. Should've discovered this sooner and I imagine that it would work very well for me in summer. No allergic reactions, too!
Repurchase: Yes

Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream (sample)
Item #3 from Mister Homebody's baggie and you must be thinking, "Is it safe for pregnancy?" Answer is yes. Clarins has stated that their products are pregnancy safe, but of course, if you're feeling iffy then skip along. I liked this one, very much. Not heavy or oily for day use and perfect under makeup (although I'm still figuring how to layer on the pesky sunscreen and not be cake-faced). Smells beautiful, just like other Clarins products and seems to calm my skin more than my current moisturizer.
Repurchase: Bought the full-sized jar

All in all, it's probably the best empties month I've had so far with wonderful new discoveries as well as using up makeup products (they never seem to die, do they?)

What did you finish up in March?

February '14 empties

*Moving Day! Post is scheduled so that I could still get it up on time!*

We're probably internet-less and sleeping on a futon at our new place right now, surrounded by cartons and mess. It's a nice change not living right next to the train line where we're so close to the platform we can listen to entire conversations.

Anyway, I've been desperately trying to use up stuff so that there'd be less to pack and to be really honest, I'm also sick of looking at all the half-used bottles that I have lying around. Some work, some worked, some I got tired of, some I don't care for, some I disliked.

On to them, then. I'll make it short!

Sana Hadanomy Collagen Mist

I had originally purchased this as a before-moisturizer mist since I couldn't really afford serum and I'm not a big fan of anything that I think might make me wake up oily. In cold weather, I used this after toner/lotion and before night moisturizer, whereas when it's warmer, I skip my day moisturizer altogether and spritzed this on before I apply my makeup. Both ways had worked for me, although I was a little reluctant in winter because it's so cold after my shower and I didn't want that additional shock of cold mist on my face after cleansing. I like the light refreshing scent and while I know there is absolutely no benefit to applying collagen on our faces since it won't be absorbed into skin, I thought this was a good and cheap way to help stave off whatever dryness I had. No stickiness or tackiness, either. For the price, this big bottle is really value for money and I might go back to it in a pinch.

Repurchase: Maybe

Weleda Gentle Cleansing Milk

Used up my first bottle here. Going through this too fast for my stingy liking.

Repurchase: Maybe

Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer

This was good, but not great. I typically use body butters in winter as I like my hot showers and they dry out my skin terribly so this was a nice temporary switch from digging my fingers into a tub and getting globs of product under my fingernails (TMI?). It's runnier than I expected for a dry skin moisturizer and sinks in to the skin pretty quickly. I like that there is no sticky feeling after application and it still keeps my skin smooth and tack-free. The scent, however, is a little too strong for my liking but nothing I can't handle. Does its job, but that's all there is to it.

Repurchase: No

Weleda Soothing Almond Facial Cream

Got this as my winter night moisturizer as I thought my skin needed something heavier in the cold weather. Hate it. It's a lot thicker than the lotion version and not as easy to spread even with the "Japanese way" that I've been using. While it didn't make anything worse, I saw no improvement, either. All it did was sit on my face till morning. No extra softness/plumpness/moisture. Really struggled to finish it up.

Repurchase: No

Clarins Cleansing Milk with Gentian (sample)

Mister Homebody had kindly picked up some samples for me to try from the the counter as I've been miserable for a couple of months now (skin woes, harsh winter, crazy hormones etc.) and this was one of the few things they included. I didn't follow the Clarins cleansing method because obviously I don't read instructions very well. I did, however, use it like I do with any other cleansing milks, dry hands, dry face, massage onto face and rinse off. I love the feeling after patting dry. Soft and not tight at all. And, oh, the scent! Totally relaxes me! Mister Homebody had promised to get them for me if I ended up liking it...so I'll be seeing some new skincare in my routine soon!

Repurchase: Yes

Clarins Toning Lotion with Iris (sample)

Another sample from the bag Mister Homebody picked up. Another one that I love, although, I'm a little puzzled by how it gets on my lips since I could always taste it after. I know this is not meant for consumption (duh!) but maybe all that swiping with the cotton pad somehow managed to deposit some product on my lips. Like all other Clarins products, it smells heavenly and I've started to really enjoy my nightly skincare routine even in freezing temperatures. It's a pretty small sample so I can't say if it worked or not, but I didn't experience extra oiliness or dryness with use, so, yay! Another item that Mister Homebody is getting for me!

Repurchase: Yes

Hershey's Hugs Milk Chocolate & White Chocolate Scented Lip Balm

Not sure why this is called a lip balm when it doesn't really do anything. But I suppose all novelty "lip balms" are pretty much the same. I have a ton of these crappy things so I melted this with some coconut oil and a lipstick that I rarely used to make my own lip balm pot. At least they smell nice.

Repurchase: No

Bonne Bell Cookies 'n Cream Lip Smacker

Yes, another novelty product which is absolutely useless and a waste of money. Also melted this one with some coconut oil and lipstick.

Repurchase: No

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil (sample)

So, yes, I'm pregnant! I'm naturally very thin but I do have some stretch marks from a long time ago when I had a wee bit more meat on my bones. It's kinda baffling since I've been exactly the same size since I was 14 so I'm not sure where they came from. With a growing baby in my growing belly, I've been experiencing a lot of stretching and even more itching. The dry winter air isn't helping, too. I picked this up myself after Mister Homebody told me about it and encouraged that I give it a try. This tiny bottle of 5ml sample actually lasted me a good 5 days and I have to say, I'm very impressed. Not only does it smell really, really good and has a calming effect on my crazy hormones and nerves, it makes for a really relaxing massage after shower. My skin feels moisturized and not dry at all. Wish I discovered it sooner! Another one from Mister Homebody's pocket for me!

Repurchase: Yes

Ice Breakers Sours Pink Lemonade Flavored Lip Balm

Nothing to talk about here. Melted, mixed with coconut oil and lipstick.

Repurchase: No

Woohoo to getting some new (luxurious) items soon!