Last minute Empties B4 2015 is over and done with...(part I)

Ohhh. look at the Used-up bag...It's totally full!

Ok, these are actually from the last two months, but fact is...that's a lot. And I feel slightly ashamed for not having reviewed anything in a full post yet. So that will be an after-idea but first I'll post the shorter reviews...

1st batch: Skincare & Co

• Sunday Riley Good Genes: I personally found this exfoliating treatment too strong for my sensitive skin. I used it for hands, and they gotten better texture. However, that's a bit too expensive for hands for repurchase.
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• Acorelle Skin Gel Sunblock SPF 30: This oil-in-gel felt too greasy on my skin.
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• Olivine Love + Roses Tonic: I really liked the freshness of this product and the fact it is made from organically grown roses. The glass bottle will be reused to decant other toners.
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• Grown Alchemist Antioxidant+3 Detox Serum: I was looking for a detoxing serum. It feels like a Essence, very watery. I think it helps a bit: the harder work is detoxing from the inside...
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• Arcona Chamomile Balm: Soooo REPURCHASE for wintertimes. This is a sensitive skin staple that I import from skinstore.com and often have to pay duties...still worth it.

-bottom part-

• Skin & Blossom Age Resist Daycream: This is a gorgeously neutral, organic daycream that is packed with good pro-youth ingredients. It needs a full review. Already Repurchased.
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• Aurelia Revitalise and Glow Serum: This baby has passed on my blog frequently (see here). Another Winter/seasonal change product I keep on repurchasing.
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• Tarte Maracula Oil: I like the light but nourishing feel of this oil. Does it have to be from Tarte? Meh, I like other brands as well but the freebie has been wonderful.
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• Tatcha Soothing Indigo Renewing Treatment: STAPLE for my problematic skin. It soothes upcoming psoriasis spots like no other and it costs me a fortune but worth it.

Next batch of skincare:

•  Algenist Gentle Rejuvenating Cleanser: Nice and foamy. Not the most advanced or organic but it does the job and is soft.
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• Sanoflore Floral Water in Camomile & Cornflower: The Camille is so soft and retexturizes skin so gently...Just got my new French repurchase today! The Cornflower water is ideal for post-cleaning the oil & water mascara removing products-that-always-leave-this-filter-on.
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• La Roche Posay Serozinc: Everyone seems to love this one and me too. Repurchase.
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• The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof eye makeup remover: Lovely. I think Yves Rocher or cheaper brands do a similar job. On the other hand, it feels absolutely like a breeze on my eyes and I do not need to use Cornflower water to soothe afterwards. Repurchase. 

Random Hair & Body Batch

• Elancyl Cellu-slim Nuit (night): I would not be Birkinbagbeauty if I did not test out the occasional anti-cellulite lotion. It's fine but I prefer a tube formula over a pot as active ingredients do not vaporize so quickly.
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• Phylia [de M] Connect: another frequent flyer on my blog (here). My love is cooling down as I do not see that much results anymore. Oversaturated maybe?
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• Lush Marilyn: I sound like a broken record but I often use this one to both moisturize and freshen my blondes in a natural, non-chemical way.
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• Shwarzkopf Blond Me Cool Ice Anti-Yellow-Effect Spray Conditioner: Ohhh, I cannot believe I reviewed it yet. It is the ideal holiday swim anti-brassy easy toner spray. 
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• Mediceuticals x-folate anti dandruff shampoo: Well, it does a bit of exfoliating but once going organic shampoo, you will find the chemicals still affecting your scalp negatively.

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Tomorrow I'll post the remaining Empties. Probably nobody will read it as everyone is too busy, but perhaps on your booze-fueled, hangover 1 January as some distraction for yer poor head ;)

May's Used Ups...

For this month I mighta cheat a bit and add some things I used up in April as well.

Do you mind? I hope not...

• Superfoods: I've talked about the effect of Moringa before (the Kerastase oils here) so why not adding it to da smoothie. I think I really like the dynamic effect of it and I feel my skin behaves better when I add Moringa.
• By Killian Flower of Immortality: I liked it but I consider them too aquatic for a larger size.
• Chanel Les Beiges Poudre n 30: Honestly, I'm not a fan. It's too perfumed and it's not working that well as foundation or glow-i-fyer. I do bring it on holidays to top up over my sunscreen.
• Mascara Too Faced Better than Sex: This mascara is lovely but I still prefer MUFE Smokey Lash.
• NARS Eyeliner Stylo in Atlantic: A lovely colour of navy blue but it dried up quite fast.
• Phyto Phytokeratine Mask: as recommended by a hyperblonde (here) when I was quite blonde myself. Lovely, I stil prefer Alterna Fill & Fix Mask for blonde (or other colour) rescue.
• L'Oreal Glam Bronze: OMG, how old is that one again? #MUhoarder
• Stila Lipliner in Charming: #MUhoarder again...gotta clear some space
• Majolica Majorca Automatic liner in ?: this must be one of my oldest makeup-products (7 yrs) and it still gave this killer metallic blue line. Something NARS could learn from.

• Addiction by Ayako Eyeliner Pencil in Tokyo Jazz: This has been a part of their Tokyo Jazz '14 set (here). It was also the best quality item and I totally finished it: perfect tightliner tool. 

My skin finally settled from easily agitated to kinda normal. However, are we humans a satisfied species? I guess not. So I was happy to use a variety of serums adressed to other specific needs:
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• I wanted to like La Roche Posay Pigmentclar but it smelled like really strong aftershave.

• I used plenty of Odacite serums thanks to a Cultbeauty promotion: The Baobab + Sarsapilla has been an undereye serum I used for my face, quite gentle. In the beginning of May I used the Green Tea & Lemongrass  to perk up my blah complexion. It worked! On my clogged pores I used some Lavender & Jojoba but I could not see dramatic results. I prefer La Roche Posay Effaciclar for that purpose.
• The Gressa Minimalist Serum in 4 had been a tad to dark for me. However, on my holidays I gotten slightly too tan (failing sunblock) so it was an excellent, nourishing match.
•  The Caudalie Polyphenol Oil has been targeted to detox skin. I felt I woke up with clearer skin. It has a stronger fragance so I only would use it when my skin is slightly normal.
• I've been buyng Caudalie Polyphenol Serum a couple of times and I love it during spring to plump up skin.
• The unlabeled bottle has been my Marie Veronique Organics Sunscreen. Very lovely and quite matte. I love it in cities or places when I tend to go oily.
• The Dr. Jart Water Max Sleeping Mask has been a wonderful boost of moisture at night. It doesn't do that much more than adding moisture, but I have other potions to add the extras ;)

Here goes the hairstory again:

I've tried to be a blonde for a while. In order to maintain a middle blonde I started going to hairdressers who made me blonder each time. At a certain point I gotten into this unequal creation that consisted of blondes going way to grey on me (bad toning done) and darker roots. So do blondes have more fun? I guess when their hairdresser is right and when you have too much time on hands that you like to spend toning/uprooting...

I have been going slightly darker these days because maintainance was too much stress: weekly toning, greys when I have hardly any of my owns. etc.  I basically could not get that beautiful blonde level some of my fellow Dutch women have. A bad blonde can look tacky so the guys were not so lovely on me either.
Also, I've adapted an organic lifestyle, went glutenfree, used mostly organic products, so why would I infuse so many chemicals in my system by hairdyes?
Indeed, it's not for nothing that doctor's tell pregnant women NOT to dye their hair because it could harm their baby.   That could never been good news for your body even if you were not pregnant

But the things I did to be a beautiful blonde (by myself)...

• The Phyto Phytocyane also has been recommended by the platinum on XOVain. I think my hair grew a bit faster with it. The vials are a bit hazardous, though. 
• Viviscal: hairstuff from the inside. If it's good enough for models...
• Wella Ilumina is a professional hairdye used in hairdresser salons. Well, toning cost about $60 and they often plunge the cooler tone all over the hair, resulting in some greyer parts: very unflattering when you are almost 40! I did a more precise job by buying either the 9.60 or the 10.1 on the parts that needed toning. It was a heck of a job, though, and I often washed it out in 2 weeks. I think my hair is stubborn because I have the same when getting professional toning in salons. Anyway, if your hair responds normally to toning (about 4 weeks of pleasure of the colour) I guess that DIY is a beautifully cheap option. Just take care of reading a zillion of tutorials on it!
• Davines Finest Pigments Gloss in Pearl is also a professional gloss, only gentler because it does not need a developer. Pearl neutralises some yellows but for a serious yellow or orangy I'd suggest Ash. I like this one when you need instant softening after bleach without going into the harshness of chemical toning again, or blurring out the first greys. You can get them over here.
• I guess you guys know I love Lush Marilyn. I use it when I'm strawberry red, superblonde or  lighter brown. It's an awesome pre-conditioner.

We continue with hairstuff...

•  Gielly Green Repair Mask is one of the better organic hairmasks out there.
• Another fave is Alterna Caviar Repair Fill & Fix treatment Mask. It's protein based and wonderful when you need to restore lost protein.
• Supplements: Doctor's Best Hyaluronic Acid. I like this stuff...
• I often add Marine Based Collagen in my smoothies: it's supposed to plump up skin & hair from the inside.
• Kerastase Crystaliste Serum has been a godsend when I had extensions last year. However, I have to use it sparingly on my own hair.

Skin:

• Sana Hadanomy Collagen mist has been wonderful for a while, but I'm on organic facemists now.
• I found this Hada Labo moisturizer slightly too simple for my face, but it made an awesome thinner body lotion.
• Ren Morrocan Rose Body Lotion smells divine without going to chemical rose territory. It moisturizes well enough for winter skins but is a bliss for summer skin as well.
• I've gotten the Indigo Skin Repair cream as a cheaper alternative on Tatcha's Indigo cream (below). I think it works quite well on psoriasis: I mean,not completely healing but still enough to cope with. It's more affordable to put this on your body than the expensive blue Tatcha one.
• However, for face and a more intensive effect: Tatcha Indigo Cream does help.
• I've gotten First Aid Facial Radiance Pads as a cheaper alternative on Cane + Austin Retexturizing Pads (here). They exfoliate, but Cane & Austin are more effective.
• Rodial Dragon Blood Eye mask struck me as gimmicky, but I still bought some for a long haul flight. I like them better than cheaper varieties but they're pricey.

• Yves Rocher has this affordable 2-phase cleanser for eyes that can remove my stubborn Japanese Primer by Kanebo Kate
• Bionike Dependence Miscelair gel is an Italian apothecary brand that cleanses the face easily
• A gorgeous perfume stored too long: Nicolai Cococabana. Bye bye!
• I had to say goodbye to my very 1st Burberry Beauty product bought in London! I loved this foundation but never used it up.
• Fushi Organics Hydrating lipbalm packs up the right amount of moisture on lips: whether totally healthy or slightly winterrized/seasalted-in-summertime.

Nails:

My nails have been weak for some unknown reason, hence:

• I've been trying Mavala Scientifique to strenghten them: no result
• Then there was Koh Nail Hardener in Bamboo: neither worked for me
• I had to discard Essie Lambada because it dried up too much, aww...
• Same with China Glaze Unplugged
• and I left my newbie from & Other Stories in sunlight. Boohoo, such a pretty orange.

That has been a bit of product-chat. Also, the hairtalk. Someone asked me to dedicate a blogpost specifically on haircolour and I think I might do that. It's often a bit of a social experiment, going into a new colour. 
But first, a proper review on one single product again! Yes...

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!

SÉROZINC for everyone

I've been reading a lot about La Roche Posay Serozinc: how good it works, but mostly how hard-to-get it is...

I'll probably rejoice the ones that haven't got it yet (but want) and dissapoint the ones that got it by all kind of difficult ways: It's relatively easy to get by easyparapharmacie.com (here).

This used to be a complicated, French only site: Nowadays they are fully in English with various ways of payment, shipping & other uncomplicated webshop-la-la-la thingies.

Ofcourse, I added something more. The Phytokeratine travel set has been a mere €4.50 for a 50 ml shampoo &  mask. And here is that Lierac Bodyslim stuff again: I'm gonna try the nightime version.

DHL shipping is €10 for my region & it took only 2 days. It might be a lot but most of their products are slightly cheaper: eg. The Serozinc is €4.94 whereas on Dutch sites it's like €9. 

Ps: not promoting or affiliated with anything, just ask my creditcard company ; )

Resolution '14: Improving my French (read: using more French Products)

The "learning a new language" is often one of the more fun and advantageous resolutions a person can have. I mean, you only might meet one person in your life that speaks the language, but you'd always have the opportunity to really eavesdrop upon them, or *shock* reply them.

I'll take it easy and will try to improve my French:

L-R: La Roche Posay mineral water spray - Rene Furtherer Naturalia dry shampoo - Nuxe Lipgloss -Phyto Secret de Nuit - Rene Furtherer Laque Vegetale (hairspray)

I'd like to focus on Rene Furtherer's Naturalia Dry Shampoo. It has been Belgian Blogger Mostly Sunny who gave it major heads up. The Belgians are as lucky to get full access to most French cosmetics, the Dutch only partly. So she has the opportunity to try out the multitudes of French skincare and compare them to other brands.See her review here.

I really like it and I agree on it's grease-mopping cum volumising strenghts without leaving white residue:

Selfies with products are soooo 2014!

I also have the Nuxe lipgloss 02 Rose Legendaire. Nuxe is mostly famous for its buttery lipbalm; the lipgloss is the smoother & coloured sister:

It optionally plumps out lips and feels like a treat instead of lipgloss.

And something more common; my road-size La Roche Posay thermal water:

A nighttime hairbalm: Phyto Secret the Nuit (fr= Night secret)

I really didn't like this one first because it smelled like lavendel-on-a-chemical-trip and made my hair greasy and unglossy. Then I just added it in the dryer ends, SPARINGLY, which made a difference.  It couples up as a stylingcream if you opt for a braid -> waves on straight hair that last...

Are your 2014 resolutions as intellectually challenging as mine?