October Empties

☑ Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer (sample)

I don't usually use primers and I'm not sure this one really did something - at least I didn't notice a brightening effect.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Benefit The POREfessional 

☑ Avon ANEW Rejuvenate Mineral Facial Rinse-Off Treatment

I bought this a long time ago and I must admit I rarely used it. It's basically a clay mask to me (despite its fancy name) and it did nothing special. You could buy a super cheap clay mask at the drugstore and it would work just as well.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Elemis FreshSkin Face Mask Duo

☑ Magical Moisture Quenching Face Mask

Repurchase: no because as far as I know, you can't purchase this mask separately (it comes in a duo with the Deep Clean Purifying Face Mask , which did nothing for my dry skin)

What I'm currently using to replace it: other face masks

☑ Fruits & Passion Orange Cantaloup Foaming Bath

Smells nice in the bottle but almost nothing once poured in the bath. Very average foam that lasts about 10 minutes. Disappointing for the price.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random bath treats

☑ Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care (30mL)

I think this did left my hair softer but I can't really tell as I always use a leave-in conditioner after washing my hair anyway. It has a nice thick texture though!

Repurchase: no, Unilever tests on animals

What I'm currently using to replace it: Alberto Moisture Soak Conditioner

☑ Organic Aloe & Jojoba Creme Therapy

Repurchase: no as I'm sure I can find aloe vera products that work just as well at a fraction of the price

What I'm currently using to replace it: George's Light Special Moisturizing Lotion

☑ mark. Mist Opportunity Multi-Tasking Refresher with kiwi/grapefruit 

I got this a loooooong time ago when I became an Avon rep as reps have access to amazing discounts and this was included in a special mark. starter kit. I use this every morning as a toner instead of washing my face with soap because it's so dry, but I don't feel it really did something for my face. I'm glad I finally used it up!

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Equate Exfoliating Cleansing Towelettes (60 towelettes)

☑ Mario Badescu Kiwi Face Scrub (sample)

At first, I fell in love with this scrub because of its amazing smell and because it's so gentle... but after continuous use, I realized it did nothing for my skin... and it started to make the area around my mouth burn! Maybe I have an allergy to something in this scrub?


Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Bioré Daily Recharging Detoxify Daily Scrub 

May Empties

☑ Avon Solutions Plus+ Maximum Moisture Hydrating Booster

This is actually the first serum I have used, and I must say, it got me hooked! I always thought serums were for older ladies, but I decided to give this one a try as it was on sale for around $3, and I'm glad I did! I can totally see a difference in my skin condition when I use a serum.

Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: Biotherm White D-Tox Translu-Cell Intense Brightening Serum

☑ Mario Badescu Skin Care Enzyme Cleansing Gel (sample size)

There's nothing special to say about this cleanser, but I'm glad it didn't dry out my skin.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle Hydra-C ComplexE Gentle Self-Foaming Cleanser

☑ Jergens Natural Glow Face Daily Moisturizer SPF 20

I have this since such a loooong time, and I never properly used it because a) it's not moisturizing AT ALL for my super dry skin, and b) it doesn't give me a "glow" AT ALL. Totally disappointing. Anyway, I figured out I would use it up now that's it's the summer and the weather is less harsh on my skin. The only thing I liked about this moisturizer was the scent - it smells like caramel!

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Moisturizing Gel Cream for dry skin

April Empties

☑ Garnier Fructis Light Cream Ultra Protect Leave-In Color Resist

This is the first leave-in conditioner I ever purchased, and it instantly got me hooked. It's a total life saver! It leaves my hair super soft, smooth and silky. It is the only thing that has been able to really revive my hair after I bleached it several time somewhere in 2007:

What was I thinking? My hair was totally FRIED!

Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: Hana Shine Shield

☑ Vichy Normaderm 7-Day Challenge (samples)

In February, I signed up to take part in Vichy Normaderm 7-Day Challenge, but the samples lasted me far more than 7 days LOL. This is claimed to:

1 Reduces imperfections
2 Mattifies
3 Hydrates for 24Hr

Healthier-looking skin in only 7 days.
Technological breakthrough - Patent pending
Exclusive association of 3 acids used in dermatologist' offices, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lipo-hydroxy-acid, in a daily moisturizer.

This product seems to be aimed at oily skin, maybe that's why I didn't really see improvments. I didn't really like the gel texture as it leaves residues if you scratch your skin or try to blend foundation.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Elemis FreshSkin Softly Softly Daily Moisturiser

☑ Pureology SuperSmooth Shampoo & Conditioner (sample)

There's not a lot I can say about small samples like this. I'm very sceptical about hair products that claim to prevent hair color from fading as it always fade anyway.


Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Nexxus Therappe Luxurious Hydrating Shampoo & Humectress Ultimate Hydrating Conditioner (89 mL)

☑ Bliv Off with those Heads Blackheads Sebum Gel (sample)

I have stubborn blackeads on my chin, nose and cheeks and no matter how much I exfoliate, they never seem to come off. This product didn't really help either.


Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Bliv Off with those Heads Blackheads Sebum Gel (sample)

☑ Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Day and Night Creams (sample)

I got these through Facebook some times ago and I can't say a lot as they have lasted me for about 3 days, but I really enjoyed the scent, and I think the texture is perfect.They smelled of berries, too... yummy!

Repurchase: yes... if they weren't that expensive!

What I'm currently using to replace it: Elemis FreshSkin Softly Softly Daily Moisturiser and Avon Basics Rich Moisture Face Cream

☑ Barielle Total Foot Care Cream

The texture is great, not too light nor too thick, and the scent is very subtle. I got this from Meg's Makeup but I don't think I would repurchase it as it has nothing special and there's many great (and cheaper) alternatives out there.


Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Neotoric Diabetic Oxygenated Advanced Healing Cream

☑ Avon Moisture Therapy intensive Treatment Extra Strenght Cream for extra dry skin

I liked this, even though it didn't relieve the itching and roughness of my extra-dry skin (due to eczema), like it's claimed to do. I didn't feel that it provided 24 hour of moisture, but it was moisturizing anyway. I also think the texture is perfectly thick.


Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: Jergens Replenishing Vitamin E Gentle Exfoliating Moisturizer

 ☑ Mario Badescu Summer Shine Lotion

There's nothing I liked about this lotion except maybe the scent! It's too light, it isn't moisturizing at all, and I absolutely hated the shimmers (seriously, who would want shimmers in their body lotion?!)


Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Jergens Replenishing Vitamin E Gentle Exfoliating Moisturizer

My mini giveaway for a NEW Lancôme Color Design Palette ends tonight at 11:59, hurry to enter if you haven't already!

Tag: 5 Beauty Items You Regret Buying

I've been tagged by the lovely Annabelle from Makeup Wonderland to list five products I regret buying. Now I'll be honest, I can't say I have really hated a lot of products, but for the purpose of this post, I have narrowed down some items that aren't given much love for a reason or for another.

o1. Annabelle Eye & Face Palette in Ibiza

I got this palette for only $1.50 at the first Marcelle warehouse sale I attended (see my super old post here). When I saw it, I thought it was a perfect neutral palette, but as I was a makeup noob at the time, I didn't swatched it before buying it. See the disaster for yourself:

The eyeshadows are sooo sheer and chalky, but the bronzer is great (althought a little too shimmery, but I bet it would make a great eyeshadow). I think I will depot the bronzer and give the eyeshadows away.

o2. Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow Quad in Designer Chocolates

I bought it because it was on sale for $5 and it came in a package with something else... I think it was an eyeliner, I can't remember. I'm so disappointed as the shades are all so sheer and hard to blend.

You can't even see the lid shade, it's just shimmers! Same for the crease, and the browbone is almost invisible. The outer corner seems more pigmented but you need to pile on shadows to make it opaque and it's hard to blend. I'm sad because I've seen some many swatches of this quad in Chai Latte and other neutral shades and they all look pretty and pigmented.

o3. Avon Smooth Minerals Lipstick SPF 15 in Apricot Glow and Crystal Coral 

I bought these somewhere in October or September (see super old post here), when I was still an Avon rep, as I had a discount and they were already on sale. I think I got them for around $3. I was new to lipsticks then (and I still am!) but I really wanted to try a mineral lipstick, and I thought the shades looked pretty. The swatches in the Avon leaflets were always terrible, but I ended up getting two shades that looked natural.

I was disappointed to see that they are so shimmery. I was looking for a natural look, so I thought a mineral lipstick would be perfect for that. Those shades are sheer and natural, but the shimmers still bug me a little.

 Apricot Glow

 Crystal Coral

L-R: Apricot Glow, Crystal Coral

I love that they are sheer and feel almost like a gloss on the lips as they are so lightweight. These lipsticks are supposed to keep lips smooth as they are enhanced with shea butter and conditioning oils, but I don't think they could replace lipbalm if you have super dry lips like me. 

To be clear, I don't hate these lipsticks, I just wish Avon would picture more accurate swatches of their products in their leaflets. If I knew they would contain so much shimmers, I wouldn't have bought them.

o4. Avon Solutions Winter Moisturizing Mask (review)

I was thrilled to try this mask as it seemed to have been designed especially for dry skin that gets even more dryer in the winter, but it was a complete let down.

The mask has a subtle apricot scent and the texture looks great when you dip your finger in the tub, but it's a different story when applied to the face. It's too light for a mask and it's not moisturizing at all. What a waste of money!

 o5. Herbal Essence Dangerously Straight Pin Straight Hairspray

Wow, this is sooo old! I bought it when I was in high school, when I started envying the girls with super straight hair. I didn't know about flat iton at the time LOL. Needless to say, this is crap. It makes my hair stiff and sticky (even though it claims not to) and it doesn't help it stay straight at all.

Giveaways I have won in November

 My prize from Lisamarie's giveaway

• Avon Healthy Makeup Mousse Foundation in Natural Beige
• Avon Healthy Makeup Lipstick SPF 15 in Pink Light
• Avon Healthy Makeup Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Nude Blush
• Avon Healthy Makeup Eyeshadow in Iced Mocha
• Avon Healthy Makeup Eyeshadow in Violet Dusk

Mousse Foundation in Natural Beige: At first, I thought this would be a little too dark for my light skintone, but when blended, it matches perfectly! I never wear foundation and this is the first mousse foundation I get to try, and I'm pretty happy with it. It is very light and it leaves my skin so soft!

Lipstick SPF 15 in Pink Light (top) and Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Nude Blush (bottom) : Both of those lipsticks are a little too dark for everyday wear against my light skintone, but they can easily be toned down with a single swipe. Also, in pictures, both shades look very similar...

Nude Blush (left) Pink Light (right) without flash

 Nude Blush (left) Pink Light (right) with flash

 Nude Blush

 No, I'm not affiliated with Molson Dry LOL.
Pink Light

Eyeshadow in Violet Dusk (left) and Iced Mocha (right) : These are cream to powder eyeshadows and they glide so well on the lid, but they crease like crazy )=

Left to right: Violet Dusk and Iced Mocha swatched and then blended (without flash)

 Left to right: Violet Dusk and Iced Mocha swatched and then blended (with flash)

Thank you Lisamarie!!

 My prize from Sharon's giveaway

• i.d. bareMinerals Eyeshadow in Chenille
• i.d. bareMinerals Eyeshadow in Vanilla Sugar
• i.d. bareMinerals Glimmer in Lust
• i.d. bareMinerals Glimmer in Liberty
• i.d. bareMinerals Glimmer in Bikini
• i.d. bareMinerals Glimse in Water Lily
• i.d. bareMinerals Eyeshadow in Bordeaux
• Revlon Nail Enamel in Rock
• Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Gilty Pleasure

 Top to bottom and left to right: Chenille, Vanilla Sugar, Lust, Liberty, Bikini, Water Lily, Bordeaux: I was thrilled to get to try some bareMinerals eyeshadows! My favorites are Liberty and Bordeaux. So pretty!

 Left to right: Chenille, Vanilla Sugar, Lust, Liberty (without flash)

  Left to right: Chenille, Vanilla Sugar, Lust, Liberty (with flash)

  Left to right: Bikini, Water Lily, Bordeaux (without flash)

   Left to right: Bikini, Water Lily, Bordeaux (without flash)

 without flash

with flash

Revlon Nail Enamel in Rock: I don't have a purple shade in my nail polish collection, so this one will be perfect! It's gorgeous, even though it looks more blue in the pictures z=

 without flash

 with flash

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Gilty Pleasure: I've been pretty curious about this all-in-one nail polish, and let me tell you, it's amazing! It went 5 days without a single chip, and it's very easy and fast to remove.

Thank you Sharon! =D

My prize from Tammy's giveaway

• Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette in Lust
• Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette in Vanity
• Cettua Trouble Clear Patch with Tea Tree Oil 1 strip 12 patches
• Fast Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy Shampoo
• Fast Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy Conditioner 
• pink nail polish from a brand I don't know (I don't know in which language it's written but I can't read it LOL)
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner in Pop Blue Eyes

 Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette in Lust (left) and Vanity (right)

Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette in Lust: So pretty! I love purple, and even more when there's glitters in it!

 Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette in Vanity: Gold must be one of my favorite eyshadow color. It's just so versatile and easy to use. I'm quite amazed by the pigmentation in those palettes!

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner in Pop Blue Eyes: I can't wait to try this on my eyes to see if it really makes them pop (=

 without flash

with flash

The pink nail polish: This is an interesting color, it has little purple shimmers in it.

Thank you Tammy!

My prize from Julie's giveaway

 

• Mega Shine Lipgloss in La La
• Lipstick in Tea Rose
• Eyeshadow in Sensual
• Rouge Cream Blush in Natural
• Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Onyx
• Doll Eye Mascara Long Lash in Extreme Black
• Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries 

Mega Shine Lipgloss in La La: Wow, this shade is absolutely stunning! I also like how the applicator is slightly curvy to "hug" the lips. Oh and it smells very sweet, like candy! Yummy ^^

Lipstick in Tea Rose: I had quite a hard time deciding which shade to get as it's hard to tell how the colors will come out from the swatches on the NYX website, so I browsed the net for real swatches, and I finally decided to get this neutral pink. I still think it's a little too dark for my skintone, but then again, I'm very light, so maybe I just need to get used to it.  

Left ro right:  La La over Tea Rose, La La, Tea Rose

(without flash)

Left to right: La La  over Tea Rose, La La, Tea Rose

(with flash)

(without flash)

(with flash)

 Eyeshadow in Sensual: I totally have a thing for those gorgeous dark glittery shades.

Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Onyx and Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries: I searched the net for swatches of the Crystal Liners and Onyx is the only one that has a colored base, so I picked it. I've heard lots of good things about the Jumbo Eye Pencils, but this one creased on me after less than 1 hour )=

Left to right: Sensual, Crystal Onyx, French fries

(without flash)

Left to right: Sensual, Crystal Onyx, French fries

(with flash)

Rouge Cream Blush in Natural: This is my first cream blush, and the shade is perfect. However, I find it hard to blend on the cheeks, but maybe I just have to get used to it?

Merci Julie! 

Wow, I seriously feel like it's Christmas already! I've been spoiled! Thank you so much girlies! =D