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?

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.

Purchase Mistake: ELF Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF20

Product: 

ELF Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF20

From here:

This lightweight and hydrating formula is breathable and provides anti-aging sun protection with UVA/UVB SPF 20. Achieve even skin tone and naturally radiant skin with this moisturizing sheer tint of color. The smooth formula enhances your complexion with the nourishing key ingredients Aloe, Cucumber and Vitamins A, C & E.

Why I bought it:

I developed an allergy to SPF products in my early 20s after a bad bout of sunburn. As a swimmer in my teens, I trained 7 days a week, rain or shine. I had a perpetual tan and my skin gladly welcomed sunblocks and creams of any kind. Somewhere between school and college, my body had started to reject sunscreen. Each time I applied it would result in breaking out in hives. One time, the allergic reaction was so bad that I had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment because my throat had started closing in. When I went to college, I stopped swimming and my lifestyle changed. Where I spent most of the day at the pool when I was a teen, I now spent my nights outdoors instead, going to clubs, working on college assignments and indulging in late night suppers. It was perhaps this change of lifestyle that threw my body off balance (I'm just assuming, really) and I was baffled when I had a bad burn after a weekend at the beach with friends. To say it was a bad sunburn was understatement; I had to get a jab on the drive back from the beach to the city. I was in so much pain and my body temperature was rising steadily. During the consultation, the doctor told me that I suffer from a condition called sun allergy. I know, right. What nonsense! But, yes, in addition to being allergic to sunblock, I also have sun allergy. Oh, joy. Needless to say, products that said "SPF" on their labels couldn't find a customer in me for years. Slow, though, I started experimenting with SPF products again. After all, the doctor did say that we develop and get rid of allergies in our lifetime. It started with a powder foundation with an SPF. My skin didn't react to it any more than when I didn't use it. Being in my late 20s now, I shudder at all the sun damage inflicted on my skin in all the years that I did away with sun protection. I thought it was safe to reintroduce it into my beauty regime.

Why I hate it:

It has practically zero moisturizing properties. The first time I tried it without my regular moisturizer, it just dragged across my poor face like a very dry expired moisturizer. It went on streaky and wouldn't spread properly. When I finally (and with much difficulty) managed to smooth it out as best as I can, it just sits on the surface on my skin like an orange mask. I looked like I had a very bad fake tan on my face. Being so dry, it was flaky on some parts, which is a huge surprise for me as I have always had a combination-oily skin type. Flakiness was unheard of until then. I gave it a second try the next day and applied it over my regular moisturizer. Nope, didn't work, too. While it went on streaky before, now it clumped up my moisturizer and I was left with little orange balls all over my face. So I spent another 5 minutes fixing my face. It worked badly with makeup, however minimal. My face was oilier than usual in less time, and blusher doesn't seem to sit well on it. The cherry on top, however, would be when I broke out so badly the next day. I had more than 10 pimples all over my face and rashes in certain areas. It took me 4 days with an antihistamine and 2 weeks for it to clear. Needless to say, there was no third try for this product. I gave it to a friend to try (hence no actual picture of the culprit) thinking that she might fare better than I did, given my history with sunscreen allergy and sensitive skin. She had the exact same reaction as I did. So, off to the bin it went.

Why I definitely won't repurchase:

Not only did it not work for me (and my friend), it caused so much damage to my skin that could possibly be irreversible. It has been 2 months since that incident and I still have some dry spots from when I had rashes. I had badly wanted to like this product after reading all the good reviews about it. Sadly, this falls far too short of my expectations, even with its $3 price tag. Also, not sure if this is a usual complaint, but the tube was only half full when I got it. Dud, much?

October '12 empties

Inspired by so many other beauty bloggers, I have decided to do my own "empties" posts.

When I came to Japan, I took as many skincare products along with me as possible. Now, I have a good reason.

I have this habit of buying 6 months worth of anything each time I go shopping for my toiletries. I can only blame it on my busy schedule as I hardly had time for sleep when I'm working. Last thing I really,  really need is facing a bad week with an empty tub of body butter.

So it was only natural that when I left Shanghai and came here, I have a mountain of stuff that I have either barely used, or a completely brand new. I couldn't ship them over here due to restrictions with shipping cosmetic items and liquids. I did the only thing I could.

I packed them all into my check-in luggage.

I was a mere 4kg overweight and it was nothing that an apologetic smile at an early check-in couldn't fix. While I'm definitely no stranger to luggage overweight, I was a little nervous about having the man lug my trolley case from the airport to my new apartment.

He did grumble, as I had expected, but I reminded him that I had spent quite a bit of money shipping the other 30kg of stuff over that he didn't have to drag around.

But, I digress from the original intent of this post.

On to the empties:

Product #1:

Biotherm Aquasource Oil Free Clarifying Hydrating Gel Lasting Fresh Matte Finish

From here:

Keeps skin ideally hydrated without a greasy after-feel. Also mattifies to keep skin moisturised and shine-free for long.

What I think:

This is a product that I had loved dearly for 3 or so years. I was so devoted that I would purchase at least 2 bottles from my local Biotherm counter in Malaysia each time I go on my skincare pilgrimage. It spreads so easily on my skin and doesn't sit on the surface leaving it sticky. The gel sinks right in and preps my face for makeup without needing a primer. I love, love, the smell of it because it always seems to wake me up a little and lift my senses in the morning. As I worked outdoors a lot and couldn't be bothered wearing makeup on the days I have 4.30am call times, all I have on my face for those 20-hour days is this baby right here. The pump dispenses just the right amount of product and a bottle could easily last me 3-4 months. I believed that this was my HG moisturizer, through and through. Imagine the devastation I faced when the Biotherm girl (we were already on a first name basis and buddy terms by then) said that the product had been discontinued and will no longer be sold at their counters in Malaysia. I was practically inconsolable. The bottle in the picture was in fact a tester product which the girl so kindly gave to me after I was told that it was discontinued. And this, too, will be the last bottle that I will ever use.

Will I repurchase:

No. As much as our love affair had lasted 3 years, I won't be repurchasing it. When I came to Japan, for some very strange (and very sudden) reason, it stopped working for me. In fact, it was like my skin had developed a total rejection to it. I was constantly pimply, and mind you, this was of the big and painful variety. The oil production factory floodgates broke and my makeup would be cakey within the first couple of hours. My self-esteem took a huge dip when my face was just greasy all the time. Who gets greasy in spring time anyway? Apparently I do. So with a really heavy heart I stopped using this and switch to a Japanese drugstore brand. The difference was immediate. I tried going back to it a couple of days (very bad mistake) and my skin took another hit which lasted weeks. I had to retired this to a dark corner in the closet for some months before I finally decided to finish up the remainder by using it as a hand lotion. Of course, it didn't fare well as a hand lotion, but I couldn't bear to see it go to waste.

Product #2: The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Butter

From here:

An intensive, rich and fragrant all-over body moisturiser with the decadent Japanese cherry blossom fragrance. Absorbs into the skin easily to condition and soften. 

• Lasting hydration 

• Leaves skin softer and smoother 

• Buttery texture 

• Cherry blossom scent 

What I think:

Absolute winter essential! I bought this tub in Hong Kong when I lived in Shanghai solely because The Body Shop is not available in China. I've always had a huge crush on anything cherry blossom so this was the first (and only) tub I reached for when I stepped into the store in Wan Chai. The scent, while is nothing like other cherry blossom products (not necessarily body stuff) I had, was something that till now I'm not too sure that I really like. It was a tad too strong and I felt like my senses were under siege whenever I smooth this onto my skin. However, it does seem to be bearable once I crawl into bed. It may even have helped to lull me to sleep. The texture seems to be a little smoother than the other body butters from the same brand that I've used before and spreads on easily. I find that because it's slightly fluffier than the others, I tend to use a little less. Typically, I apply this on my body after my nightly shower before bed as I think this is the best time to do it. My skin gets really dry in winter to the point where my eczema flares up and I get rashes so bad that they bleed so this is a really good alternative to treating my predicament with medication and other creams. They go on my arms, legs, torso, shoulders, back, bottom...everywhere! As a body butter, I didn't expect it to sink into my skin completely and leave it feeling grease-free. When you've got 2 blankets and duvets, a pair of thick socks and pajamas, and an electric blanket plugged in during winter, that little bit of tacky feeling will make you thankful it's there. I'm a two-showers-a-day but I use shower gel only at night (refer to the dry skin point). I find that when I take a warm shower in the morning, I still have a slight protective layer of body butter on me so my skin isn't completely naked. This helps to make my skin feel moisturized throughout the day with no dryness-itching.

Will I repurchase:

Definitely. As a matter of fact, the man is also using it, albeit in a more manly scent which is Olive. I've always used these when the weather's cold and they've yet to fail me. However, this falls into my winter-only buy as I prefer lighter lotions in summer.

So that sums up my two(!) empties from the last month. I should really learn to write real summaries instead of being so wordy.

As a hoarder in general, I'm looking forward to finishing up my old/existing products because I'm pretty convinced that the guy who predicted Doom's Day is wrong and I have no need to prepare for the apocalypse.