February Empties

 I think I'll be having a theme for the February Empties, and that is Target: Good Skin...

Read on if it worked or not:

1. La Roche Posay Thermal Water - I've been discussing this spritzy number in my 'Improving French' post. It's really neutral and the lovely size makes it wonderful for carrying around. Somewhere I read that Avene even has a better option -> curious

2. Kris D'Amour Soothing Body Butter -> I talked about it here and I have been putting this one on my eczema spots on both face & body. It's lovely, somewhat soothing but unfortunately not curing. I'm trying the Trevarno TLC cream now that feels like a better melt for the skin.

3. Antipodes Aura Mask -> purchased last year and finished lately for the heck of it. It's nice, but not what I would say "good". I've been testing it pre-[important]-date this summer and it didn't do that much in 1. clearing up skin 2. tightening pores nor 3. soothing dryness. Also nothing on brightening/luminising skin. I don't know what it does except getting money out of my purse. Then again, it's moisturizing and not irritating.

4. Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm -> This is one of those Clarins beauty balm clones out there. It smells a bit strong, and does a bit of illuminating under the foundation. I like it, but I wouldn't repurchase it for the fragance.

5. S5 Illuminate serum Hyperpigmentation -> This has been actually good in diminishuing post-sun darkness. I would repurchase but I'm on Kahina Brightening Serum now and that one is stellar.

6. Rouge Bunny Rouge Genesis Primer -> I stick with my original review. Moreover, it really whitens the skin too much [after self tan] and I do not think a primer without any CC (blahblah) should alternate the original skintone, just improve pores/skin/etc.

7.  Kris D'Amour Soothing Serum -> like most organic skincares the serums are often oils. It's nice but it didn't cure my eczema, so the search goes on.

8. Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturizing cream -> Delightfully scentless, and actually delightfully nothing. Perfect for when skin cannot stand anything but moisture.

Generally, nothing really worked so I had to bring in the extra cover of foundation, etc. Thus, I used up my very 1st foundation within 3 months (Rouge Bunny Rouge). Now there's something to say about not using that much makeup when having eczema, but not using it is not very self-confidence-building either: especially when one of those flawless girls next to you in the beautyshop complains about redness on her face: *grlllsishkll&*$%* [oh, I wasn't supposed to get agitated again as it aggraviates the skin??? Ooops]

1. Winner '13 Koh Gen Do Maifanshi still gets my vote, and I have to order from Barneys for that one.

2. Omorovicza Complexion Enhancer SPF 15 almost made it to my Best '13 list, weren't it a bit too orange. Actually, I feel this tinted moisturizer is more of those CC creams and the orange/peach perks up the skin. But sometimes it's a bit too orangy. I adore it's scent: Hungarian hothouse spa-ness!

3. Rouge Bunny Rouge Age Defying Foundation: My ultimate cover-up favourite! Somehow I'm still a 'natural girl' when wearing this one...

4. Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel in Sunkissed: This is also NATURE, not blush...It's lumiscent, dewy and looks like I woke up really beautiful...

5. Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence Ex: Booohooo, I finished up my last backup! I once wrote about the 'lipstick transforming powers' as this is the powerranger among skinny lips. But where to get it now? I need mooooore...

Yes, my skin hasn't been too succesful these months, so when I didn't wear makeup I went for this Cousin It style:

That needed hair again, so here are the hair-empties:

1. Weleda Millet Nourishing Shampoo: This sample was my introduction to Weleda shampoos. They've gotten the raves but this shampoo was quite meh. It didn't clean that much, the moisturizing was not that good and it smelled like a weird herbal: and that is coming from someone who has been quite organic lately

2. Solgar Hyaluronic Acid supplements: Moisture from the inside to tackle the eczema. Meh, the healthy parts of my skin do look dewier and less wrinkly but I wanted it to help for the parts that really needed it.

3. L'Oreal Professionel Nature Mask Cacao: I totally adore the Cacao line and this mask has been brilliant! My hair has been cut a lot so the dry has been gone; I do not need that much of it these days but it still soothes like nothing else. The yummy & natural scent of chocolate is one of the perks as well! Absolutely gorgeous hairmask.

4. Apivita Propoline shampoo for oily roots & dry ends: Oh man, makeupalley rates this one so high and all I though about it was how average this shampoo was. It's really like Herbal Essences which is nice but not earthshockingly good. Also I felt it was irritating -> it gave me a new spur of dandruff. I've been throwing away this 3/4 full bottle :(

5. Kose Happy Bath Day handcream: Another "Why has this been discontinued" moment! It's also the last one from my stash. I was counting on something dupe-a-ble but I haven't found something that equals the thin-ness and effectivity (original review here)

6. Physalis Krill Omega Oils: I think I consist of 70% of oils these days, instead of water. I've been taking flaxseed oils, Chia Seeds, bake in coconut oil and I've been taking this one too. Effective? Might be but not effective to cure. I'm tired of all these efforts and oils now.

7. Schwarzkopf Bonacure Hairtherapy CS Shampoo in Silver: It's actually purple instead of silver. It gets the warmth out of highlights. My hair has been pulling a bit too reddish lately. I like being slightly strawberry blonde, but I toned down some warmth with this shampoo. It gets high rates and is quite effective. However, not too scalp-friendly so I will be moving on to Lush Daddy-O.

Pjew, lot of mini-reviews and a bit of complaining. Sometimes it gets a bit too much of having heaps of products that claim to be effective, but are not. I hope this helps a bit for the ones looking around :)

♥

Winter Switch

Winter suddenly arrived over here so that means it's time for a switch in products:

1. Perfume
Perhaps you remember talking about the By Killian Beyond Love over here, and I haven't used it that much during the summer, but I think it's time to reach for a headier perfume with some warmer floral notes. I also like the muskier L'artisan Parfumeur  L'été en Douce even though the name suggest that it's a summer perfume only. I actually think that it's muskier component is perfect for wearing it on its own for the autumn/winter season, or layer it with other perfumes for more musky sensuality.

2. Hands
 People with colder seasons know how awful it feels like when your hands get cracks or little tears in it, especially with the cuticles. I love this Kose Happy Bath Day hand essence for the sheer reason that it is quite thin and I can take it on travel and to work without being afraid I will grease up everything I touch afterwards. Thicker and more emolient creams are wonderful too, but more as a treatment at night or to wear with gloves when at home. My only gripe is that they don't sell it anymore: why? So I'll be looking for a serum-like alternative for the time this one runs out.
 
3. Lips
 Perhaps something for all seasons but a switch in coldness means something that is more balmy than your fluffier summer balms. The Nuxe Reve de Miel (english for 'dream of honey') is a staple among makeupartist for the reason it moisturizes, has that perfect thickness & is matte enough for a base for lipsticks afterwards.

Hello Kitty Eggs; House of Worship birdies and Adam-haul

After a day of contemplation and some rest I think it is time to post something positive. So I said to myself: "stop the sulking and get back to business". Thank you to all the sweet bloggers who gave me a soft pat on the back....♥ ♥ ♥ ♥♥ ...

I saw a couple of children's chocolate eggs in the Hello Kitty form: They are so cute and they contain small Hello Kitty Dolls inside: I have four of the tiny Hello Kitty dolls now...

He he, how childish of me. The chocolate is really good of those eggs...

I received glowchaser's gorgeous creation today! It arrived in a sweet tin and in the cutest foil, that was decorated with strawberry stickers. She has added a professional touch by printing a thank you letter, with jewellery care tips, on writing paper that is decorated in the layout of her webpage worship@thehouseofblues .

I already posted her picture of the birdies, but here is my version....soooo pretty and delicate!

Her latest designs are flying out of the shop (my birds did, LOL), so be fast with ordering if you are interested!

From Adambeauty I bought a second one of the Kose Happy Bathday hand emulsion. I finally finished my first version I bought in Autumn 2008, and I needed a new one.

I also ordered a Shiseido Integrate Accent eyes palette in the green version: GR760. (Oh come on, how could I just order the hand serum alone)

I haven't swatched them yet, but I love the mix of brown and green colours...very earthy and beautiful:

The instructions on the back are included, as often with Japanese eyeshadows....

That were the wonderful items that flew (sorry for the bird-pun) in my mailbox today. I love all the items I received as they are original and wonderful. I will post swatches of the Integrate palette in the near future, but I am not sure when yet.

Let me wish everybody who reads my blog a wonderful Eastern Weekend in advance! I hope your weekend will be filled with bliss and positivity! ♥Birkster♥

hand-i-ness: Kose Happy bath day Hand Essense

Cold days like these play havoc on my hands. In the summertime, they feel pampered enough with a bit of body lotion in the morning. In wintertime, they tend to become severely dry and peel around the cuticles. Not a pretty sight, I say.

Until recently, I have been using the old cast-offs of my facial care products; the facial moisturizers that were not suitable for my face got their new leash of life on my hands. However, my hands were sticky for minutes after....

I needed a specialized handcream, and fast. So during my last order at adambeauty.com I was browsing their new items selection, and came across to a Kose product that was baptised in 'Happy Bath Day hand essence'. 'Happy Bath Day', how nice! A merge between happy birthday and the happiness that you can retrieve from taking a bath....

Happy Bath Day products claim to be scented with Roses...an all time favourite in my book...
So the potion found its way into my cart, and it was shipped to my home. My first impression was...how small. I put the product next to a mac-lipstick to see how tiny it is:


Fortunately, it is a serum-like product, which makes it more potent...therefore you do not need much to get a smooth result. The next picture is taken on my arm; I have inherited my mother's hands, sturdy hands but a bit rough, so I did not want to take a picture of my hands :)

The rose scent is delicious, in my opinion...it reminds me of a more expensive rose perfume such as the likes of 'Les Parfums de Rosine'. It lingers for more than half an hour after applying.

What doesn't stay is the stickiness...in fact, the product is absorbed in no-time after rubbing it in. It is ideal for taking this with you on the road, or while driving your car without slippery hands on the steering wheel.

Which does not mean that it lacks moisture, no sir (lady), it locks the moisture in for a long time. Like a facial serum, it is a strong soothing product that makes my inherited sturdy hands a bit more dainty and lady-like.

Overall, size often matters, but if a product is really good and concentrated then a smaller size is just as functional ;P

Kose Happy Bath Day Hand essence is available @ adambeauty.com for $6,50 or at jpmon for 279 Taiwan new dollars, which is $8.14 at the current rate.