October Empties

My fave finished-up for this month has been my travel sized Water Calligraphy by Killian. It's one of the three fragances I got it during my 'spoiled Christmas '13'.

Aquatic fragances will always be a bit 1990s for me. This version is feminine without being obtrusive, fresh during summer & uplifting when colder.

The empty at the background is Jill Stuart CC foundation: unfortunately too fragancy for me.

More Foundations:

I had some testing this month & the-one-that-got-away: my Giorgio Armani Maestro fluid foundation is still half-full but it turned a bit after 1 1/2 year. It was a favourite in the beginning: excellent cover with my-skin-but-so-much-better finish. Then I found it silicony compared to my newer foundations.

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Amazing Cosmetics Concealer has been excellent in offering high-cover, thin enough without irritating skin. It could be a future purchase.

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BE Creative Makeup is the house-brand of beautystore ICIParis (only in the Netherlands & Belgium). Their Photo Perfecting Primer has been a supernice surprise that had similar qualities like my niche Rouge Bunny Rouge Metamorphosis. Their foundation was ok, scentless and high coverage but I have to test it in a lighter colour range.

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 Hourglass Immaculate Foundation has been Allure's 2014 winner, and actually well-deserved. Scentless, weightless & a gorgeous finish on skin. Or another wishlist foundation for the future.

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The Essence Ticket to Paradise creamy eyeshadow has dried out. I still like Essence line for experimenting with colours within a good pricerange.

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The Boscia BB cream has this fresh texture on the skin: like a water-bubble feeling. I sorta stepped away from BB-cream when they gotten popular but this one is quite nice

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Jouer Matte foundation is a bliss in *oily climate zones*: I'd say Barcelona during summer or similar smog-zone cities. It zaps up un-necessary oilies without dulling skin

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Oh, I already discussed the craptastic-ness of this eyecream over here: case closed.

Oh wait, I'm not totally done complaining because I had some weird experience with two(!) Therapi creams this month.I had bought both the no 3 Honey Moisturizing  as the Rose Otto Ultra Radiance cream a couple of months ago. I had stored them in my cool storage that totally agrees with my other skincare. Result:

weird shifting of cream/oil in both creams

I know there is a risk with natural skincare with having a shorter lifespan but this one:
1. did not have an expiry date
2. I had it for just 2 months, unopened!

My Nailpolishes, on the other hand, had a good couple of years before drying up.

Some Essies, Color Club & a Brazillian one on the right

Then my skincare:

Bioderma HydroBio Legere has been the equivalent of Nivea to me: nicely moisturizing but not much else. I've only used it twice.

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Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose in it is such a versatile mask/cleanser hybrid. I'd picked it up in the UK. 

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A smaller La Roche Posay thermospray always comes in handy for a dewier complexion.

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Macademia oil is a nice fatty moisturizer to use on hair: I smells wonderfully nutty.

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MU London White Chocolate Moisturizer smelled similar to Palmer's Cocoa butter. This is a organically friendlier version and I really liked this travel size.

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I didn't like the oily residue after using Live Nature Exfoliating cleanser. I felt like washing my face a couple of times again which shouldn't be necessary.

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I really liked the Algenist Renewing Balm eyecream and I might repurchase in a bigger size.  The Algenist Reparative Anti-ageing Moisturizer has this kind of neutral/lab scent and aura that would be perfect for sensitive days. 

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Continuing on Algenist, I totally liked this sample of the Brightening Mask. It's another hybrid product of exfoliating & cleansing, resulting in clearer, more radiant skin.

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My Chelle Supreme Polypeptide cream has been nice introduction to the formula.

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I've used the S5 brightening serum before, but this time I really needed it. I previous long-weekend left me with a sunburn (lousy sunscreen's fault). I think this generous sample did lighten me a bit.

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First Aid Beauty Total Repair cream is so incredibly neutral and moisturizing at the same time. I think it would be bliss when you really need it.

Last but not least:

Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm is a firm favourite among Organic oriented beautybloggers. That's for a good reason because this is an amazing multitasker being able to cleanse, moisturize lizardy cuticles and other dry areas. It smells gorgeously herbally.

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I've been so curious for Living Proof Full Shampoo. Obviously, because it's co-owned by hair of the 1990s (and still) Jennifer Aniston. Reviews were mixed and I get that: it leaves a residue behind that curly/dryer types will love and the thinner strands won't. I liked the result, but I didn't like the green tea scent.

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My 1st Vine-ed item on this blog: The Balmain Hair perfume [here]. Something did leak out but I'm sure I'd finished it with much enthousiasm anyway. Basically, LOVE: a fab hairglosser and a gorgeous fragance in one.

Ok, I've lied about it being the last. There are still some lip-products:

 

The Aube Frutina Gloss EX03 so amped and it probably one of my glossies glosses. I had it for too long so time to let go *sheds tear*

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Ah, a Mascara. I really love Kanebo Kate eye-primers but this mascara is just average.
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The Pixi Lipgloss (right corner) has been discontinued and I totally worn off the name. This gloss is your-nude-but-better. I wonder if their newer glosses have a similar grip on lips like this one.
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To finish with a mystery lipstick:
the lipstick on the bottom is Korean but I cannot say which brand. I did so many Gmarket orders in the past #goodtimes. It just has Korean signs & PK 002 at the bottom.

Now after writing this down I feel nostalgic for ordering from Gmarket again: the effort, the hassle, the decifering Korean signs, but most...that awesomely big package that's the equivalent of a Russian doll:

past Gmarket haul

Yes, such box-i-ness can only be Gmarket!

Using Used Gonna Use

I've been seeing so many tanning people on the beach lately that I positioned my bottles and empties in a similar horizontal position: (ps: not advocating tanning: wear sunscreen & hat!)

Eh ok, like people you do not see the labels (or who they are) so easily when they lie on their bellies, so: 

Used:               I have been using up a couple of skincare items.

a. The Omorovzica Gold Serum has been finished for more than a month ago: I started using it (see here), replaced it for Aurelia serum for a while (which I finished), and emptied this one too. I have to give the word like to it but it isn't love. I feel it firms my skin a bit, but for its price I consider it to be not the miracle product I think it should be. 

b. Bioderma Micellar Water: I gotten this baby size on one of my trips to Paris. Bioderma has a great cult following and I can see  and notice the easiness of this water. Nevertheless, since organic and natural varieties have stepped up the scene I think I prefer them instead. See also the bottle of my gonna use.

c. Akin Refreshing and Soothing Toner with Orange Blossoms: a lot of people suggest that the use of toners is completely unnecessary in skincare.  I believe in the ritual and aromatic powers of a skincare regime. Also, I love the feeling of removing the last trace of creamy or oily cleanser and preparing the skin in an aromatic way for the next step. This is my 2nd bottle being emptied and I love the orange flower in this baby.

Using: 

Armani Cosmetics Eyes to Kill in 04 Pulp Fiction: It has been my first Dutch Armani purchase. Not the one from the brick-'n-mortar store I discussed in the previous post, but an online purchase. I've gotten a velvety Rouge d'Armani 400 as a GWP. It's a longlasting red and I haven't been using it a lot: I am not a vivid red lip wearer but it is lovely to have a smaller size of this colour for if I ever want to splash out on a red lip. Or perhaps my friend who loves these type of lipstick is gonna convince me giving it to her (or steal it).

Pulp Fiction is a cult classic and I do not have to discuss why I bought and like it : )

Gonna Use:

My favourite (organic) micellar water from Melvita: Eau Fraiche Micellair. This is my 2nd bottle and I love how it agrees on my 'delightfully'  choosy skin. I could not buy it from my 1st provider because they suddenly did not want to ship it from the UK but I found another webshop who does. (not mentioning names cough, no really not gonna do).