Empties: March 2012

March has finally reached its end and with that, I give you a new Empties post! This post is, of course, dedicated to the original Beauty Reductionista, Liz. Without further ado, here is my empties tally, collected from February 29 to today:

• Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap (473 ml)
• Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly (240 g)
• Philosophy Dream A Little Dream Sweet Dreamy Fig Body Lotion (240 ml)
• Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Intense Restoring Lipid-Enriched Lotion (200 ml)
• Fresh Soy Shampoo (300 ml)
• MAC Wipes (100 sheets)
• Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté Rinse-Off Exfoliating Cleansing Foam Purity + Anti-Pollution (150 ml)
• Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free (150 ml)
• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (50 ml)
• Lancôme Aqua Fusion Continuous Infusing Moisturizer (50 ml)
• Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml)
• MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation — NC40 (15 g)
• MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g)

Total: 13 products (11 full-size, 1 jumbo-sized, 1 gift set size)

Body Care/Haircare/Miscellaneous:

Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap (473 ml) — Mary actually gifted me this when we met up last fall. It has an amazing scent that smells like real fruit (like papaya and grapefruit), and foams up really well with a shower pouf. It's gentle and non-drying but makes my skin feel super clean and smooth. And I swear it's actually helped in clearing up the keratosis pilaris on the back of my arms.

Repurchase? Definitely!

Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly (240 g) — You can read my review of this here. I didn't use this every day, but even on a semi-regular basis, this tub ended up lasting me nearly eight months. I love the clean, citrus, ocean-y scent; perfect for warmer months. And the jelly form is great for travel.

Repurchase? Yes, but maybe in the smaller size.

Philosophy Dream A Little Dream Sweet Dreamy Fig Body Lotion (240 ml) — I bought this as part of a set when Philosophy was on sale on Hautelook. Like most of Philosophy's scented body lotions, it hydrates well without feeling heavy or greasy. Those with extremely dry skin will probably need something richer, but this is great for dry to normal skin. The "dreamy fig" scent is more of a warm fruit smell (as opposed to a fresh fruit smell), so it was nice in the winter but I think it might be too cloying for summer. I believe this was released as a limited edition product for Christmas a couple years ago.

Repurchase? No, it was limited edition and is no longer available.

Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Intense Restoring Lipid-Enriched Lotion (200 ml) — I actually got this full-size as part of one of Lancôme's Gift with Purchase events, but I have used it a few times before (when I worked for Lancôme). It's hydrating without feeling heavy or greasy, and has a light clean floral scent that isn't cloying and doesn't linger. I don't find anything special about this lotion, though; it hydrates just as well as many other lotions.

Repurchase? No, it's definitely not worth buying at full price ($48.50!).

Fresh Soy Shampoo (300 ml) — This is the second bottle I've ever bought. I love the scent (clean and citrusy), and it's gentle so it's great for everyday use. It leaves hair feeling clean and light, but I wish it was a more moisturizing. This shampoo didn't do anything that a much cheaper shampoo doesn't do, though.

Repurchase? At $30 a pop, it's just not worth it.

Skincare:

MAC Wipes (100 sheets) — Honestly, this is still the best make-up removing wipe I have ever used. It was originally made to use at fashion shows and photoshoots for a fast and effective way to remove make-up, and it's used by all artists at MAC counters and stores to take off any and all make-up including long-wearing and waterproof. I do prefer using a separate eye make-up remover for mascara, but for everything else, these wipes are the best. I use these mostly on my clients and for removing swatches nowadays, but if I need to take off my make-up in a pinch, these are great.

Repurchase? Yes, these are a must-have in my kit.

Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté Rinse-Off Exfoliating Cleansing Foam Purity + Anti-Pollution (150 ml) — Whereas Lancôme's Crème Radiance is my favourite make-up removing cleanser, this is my favourite deep facial cleanser. It makes my skin feel ridiculously smooth and clean, and it has a wonderful fresh, clean scent. It's a thick, creamy cleanser that creates a really rich lather under water, and a pea-sized amount is all I need for my entire face. There are small micro-beads that provide mild exfoliation, but it's gentle enough to use everyday. This is especially phenomenal for combination to oily skin types. At $52, this is a really expensive cleanser, but one tube (used regularly) lasts me well over six months.

Repurchase? Yes, always!

Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free (150 ml) — I have been using this toner on and off for years, and I always love it when I'm using it. It's simple and fuss-free, with a nice, clean scent, and most importantly, it's alcohol-free. I have combination/oily skin, and this is a non-drying toner that does what it's supposed to do (e.g. remove any cleanser residue, prep skin for serum/moisturizer) while leaving my skin feeling clean, refreshed, and balanced. And it comes in a handy pump dispenser! The only thing is that I go through a 150 ml bottle within a month and a half.

Repurchase? Yes, but only occasionally; it's too expensive to go through every 1.5 months.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (50 ml) — As much skincare as I buy and use, I credit Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum as single-handedly fixing all my skin problems. I first started using this when I was 21; my friend worked at an Estée Lauder counter, and she was telling me how this serum would literally repair my skin. She gave me a couple of deluxe samples of it and just said, "Just try it. You'll see." I thought it was just for old people with wrinkles and dry skin (the opposite of what I have), so I was totally wary of using it... but within a week, my skin was clearer, smoother, more radiant, more hydrated. It makes pimples heal and scars fade faster. My skin's texture has never been better. Seriously, a skin saver, if there ever was one.

Repurchase? Yes, I always buy a back-up before I finish a bottle.

Lancôme Aqua Fusion Continuous Infusing Moisturizer (50 ml) — I actually bought this a couple years ago in NYC when I found out Lancôme was going to discontinue it (I bought out the counter's remaining two jars). I'd been using this for years as my winter night cream, and I refused to use anything else. It's essentially an oil-free moisturizer that hydrates extremely well and does not break me out at all; simple, but effective. When Lancôme originally discontinued this cream, they created Hydra Zen Neurocalm Cream-Gel to replace it, which has a lighter texture and absorbs better and smells better. Of course, Lancôme brought this back out last year under the name Bienfait Aqua Vital. But now I prefer the Hydra Zen.

Repurchase? No, I get the Hydra Zen over this one now.

Fragrance:

Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml) — This is my all-time favourite perfume. I've been using this since it was launched in 2007. I have gone through at least three full-sized bottles a year since then. It's a really clean, fresh citrus perfume (grapefruit, lemon, lime blossom) with a fruity sweetness (lychee, mango flower) that isn't cloying at all and a floral note (freesia) that adds more depth and doesn't give me headaches. There is a soft warmth (tonka bean, amber, sandalwood) underlying the citrusy sweetness that gives it a more complex base and lingers beautifully on skin. It's a little steep at $92 for 100 ml, but I have yet to find a perfume I love more and like to use all year round.

Repurchase? Yep, I just bought one.

Make-up:

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g) — This is now my go-to mascara. I have really long, but really thin and straight lashes, and this amps up the volume like no other. And it doesn't smudge, even though it's not waterproof. The formula is really wet, though, so it can be prone to clumping and it can get a little messy around the tube opening... but the effect is totally worth it, 'cause I love huge, dramatic lashes.

Repurchase? Yep, I go through one in about 1.5 months, so I always have a back-up.

MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation — NC40 (15 g) — This is my daily foundation, and I've been using it for years. I've realized that I actually hate using liquid and cream make-up products on my face, and was looking for medium-full coverage in a matte finish, and this powder foundation was the answer. It's sort of a love-it-or-hate-it product, but I can't live without it now. It's completely easy and effortless to use, and I get smooth, nearly full coverage in about 30 seconds. It's more ideal for combination-to-oily skintypes, though, because it will emphasize dryness and is prone to caking on dry skin.

Repurchase? Yep, I always have a back-up.

Not as good as previous months, but still decent!