As the title indicates, this is my first "Empties" post! I have been meaning to do this one for a while but being the lazy bean that I am, it took m a whole 6 months to actually do it. This one is a bit extensive but that's what happens when I leave stuff accumulating in my empties pile!
Let's start with skincare first.
Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips: I have got to say, taking one of these pore strips off you nose is seeing all the dirt and sebum that has been sitting in your pores is one of the most satisfying thing I have ever done. It is pretty disgusting but knowing that all that gunk is out is the best feeling. I love these strips because I feel they are quite gentle and do not tug too hard at the skin when you pull them off. Also, they do an amazing job at getting rid of the dirt and I can see a noticeable difference, before and after.
Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask: I have done a review post here about this mask and my thoughts have not changed at all. Perfect for acne-prone skin and leaves the softest feeling behind. I need to buy another one of these stat because I can feel myself breaking out from the uni stress!
Shiseido Pureness Pore Purifying Warming Scrub: This scrub is pretty cool; it has these ornage beads in the formula which acts to warm up your face when you scrub it in. It leaves your skin extremely soft to the touch, almost like a baby's bottom. But for me, I would not repurchase this because I believe the price is not justified. It is quite pricey and I found that this scrub didn't really serve any other purpose than leaving my skin soft.
Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel: Time for a bit of a Clarins party here! Clarins is my current skincare routine and I love how it is derived from natural extracts. I use this gel in the morning to give my skin the much needed "wake-up" and it is gentle enough to just cleanse my skin of the night's excess oils and prep my skin for the day.
Clarins Daily Energizer Wake-up Booster: This toner, the smaller bottle on the very right, I use in conjunction with the cleansing gel in the morning. Again, it is amazing for that fresh start. Both these products are not filled with chemicals so my skin does not feel tight when I use them (which happened with other cleansers I used).
Clarins Toning Lotion with camomile: I use this toner during my night-time routine when I have to make sure all my make-up is removed before bed. I find that after using wipes and then cleansing, my face needs a bit of a gentle treatment and that is where this toner comes in! The camomile extracts really helps put the balance back into my skin. Natural is always best!
Clarins Daily Energizer Cream-Gel/Cream: The two jars are basically the same product except the gel is more "liquid" than the cream. I would recommend either but the gel is probably best for those with drier skin. Personally, I use the cream version now but the gel worked for me as well. Plus the smell of these creams are so good!
Face Of Australia Purifying Cleansing Wipes: I still love these make-up remover wipes because they are really good at getting rid of the day's make-up but I think this will be the time when I bid adieu to them as I have found something better!
Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes: I bought these wipes when they were 50% off and as they are generally quite pricey for wipes I grabbed one pack to try. Got to say, I love them better than the FOA! It's more gentle and the wipes have two sides; a smooth and a bumpy side. The bumpy side is really useful for taking off the stubborn products and then I use the smooth side just to get rid of an excess.
L'Oreal Elvive Total Repair Shampoo and Conditioner: My cousin has said that she always returns to these two even after trying all the other types of hair care. It claimed to bring life back to "damaged, lifeless hair" and I think it did a decent job of it. My hair wasn't that damaged in the first place anyway but I did like the smell and the clean feeling it left behind. However, I am using another shampoo/conditioner combo which I think is much better than the L'Oreal so I don't think I will repurchase this.
Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh: I love this moisturizer. I use it after I exit the shower and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and supple. It has a very pleasant smell as well and I have already repurchased it.
Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama Volum' Express: I am very impressed with Maybelline's Falsies range as they do an amazing job of adding volume and length without clumping. This one was no exception and I loved the look it gave to my short, straight lashes. I need to make sure that I always buy a waterproof version next time as they are better at holding up a curl as well as not smudging on me.
Nivea Visage Young Be Beautiful Tinted Moisturizer: If my memory serves me right,this was one of the very first make-up items that I bought! It is very good for starting out as well as an everyday use because it provides light coverage, perfect for a natural look.
Formula 10.0.6 Face The Day Tinted Moisturizer: I am certainly not repurchasing this product again unfortunately. It is strange because I love their face masks but this product was very disappointing. It was oily, did not apply evenly and I felt like I was hosting an oil dump on my face. As you can see, I barely used any but I thought I would include it anyway as I am throwing it out.
Priceline Beauty Essentials Nail Polish Remover (Conditioning): A good, decent nail-polish remover, it conditioned my nail cuticles as well which is always a bonus.
OPI Start to Finish Base and Top Coat: I actually really liked dual purpose of this nail polish. I had high expectations as it is pricey but it did not fail to satisfy. The top coat was glossy and my nails stayed unchipped for at least 3 days. I have other base and top coats I have to get through but I do recommend this one!
Oh man, that was a LOOOOONG post!
